Padel Smash Academy

In this exciting episode of the Padel Smash Academy podcast, Cesc & Julian sit down with Hernán “Bebe” Auguste, one of the most influential pioneers in the sport of padel. As a former World #1 player, Bebe shares his remarkable journey from his early professional career to becoming a key figure in the global development of the sport.

From his days dominating the World Padel Tour to now leading initiatives that shape the future of padel worldwide, Bebe brings insight, passion, and a visionary mindset. He discusses the business side of padel, its explosive growth in the U.S., and why community and values matter in the game.

Whether you're a fan, coach, investor, or player—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with padel legends, pros, and industry leaders!

What is Padel Smash Academy?

Hey Padel enthusiasts welcome to Padel Smash Academy, I am Cesc and I am here with Julian and we're all about Padel! Whether you're new to the sport or an experienced player, you've come to the right place. Our goal is to provide you with the best tips & tricks, news, and weekly lessons to help you improve your game and take your Padel to the next level. So grab your Padel Racket and let's get started with all things Padel on Padel Smash Academy.

Hey, Julian and Cesc here and welcome to
another exciting episode of Padel

Smash Academy, and today I'm so excited
to have Hernan Bebe Auguste, one of

the pioneers in the Padel world.

Ernan, welcome.

Thank you.

Uh, why don't you talk a little bit
about your professional career and how

you got into the business of Padel?

Well, let's talk about
something that Yeah.

We know in each other.

We grew up playing tennis
in the same academy.

40 years ago, 30 years ago?

Yeah.

When was that?

No, no.

40, 40 years ago.

40 years ago.

We grew up playing together and
then, uh, you know, I came back to,

so was he really good tennis player or no?

Yeah.

And then

his father, he brags all the time.

His father, uh, was one of the best
coaches back in that time in Argentina.

Right.

Yeah.

And uh, so, uh, I met him and his
father in a place that was called

Tennis Point, that was owned by a
family of Alva Clemente that then he

became, he become, uh, one of the top
players in, in parallel also, and top

coaches too, and top coaches, of course.

Uh, so we met there.

So, uh, yeah, I played tennis
all my young life until I was 20.

Uh, I, I play juniors and
then international and, and I

play a TPI have some points.

And then finally I decide to stop playing
and went back to live to Buenos Aires

because I was living here in Miami.

Um, and then I start just
playing Padel because

how did that happen?

You know?

'cause tennis guys are
like hardcore tennis.

Tennis and then switch a path.

You going to the dark side almost?

No.

Back, back in that time, uh,
PAA was really new in Argentina.

You know, there was, uh.

A small tour plane back in 1899.

In 89 and 90.

Yeah.

Uh, so in 1991 in January, I was having
my vacations with the family in Wai, and

I met, uh, Robbie Gaer, that he was from
tennis and I played tennis with him.

There was another guy
from tennis over there.

So I said, Hey, how are you?

What are you doing here?

And I was in vacation with
my family, so why don't you

come and play Padel with us?

So I said, what is that?

They said, no.

What was that?

I was going to university.

I was doing some teaching lessons
just to win, earn some money.

And uh, it was like this, I mean, he
said, okay, bring your tennis stuff

and we bring you the, the racket.

Okay.

And I went to place to some concrete
cord because it was also concrete.

So you've never seen it before?

This is the first time?

No, that's the first time.

So, uh.

And the reason is that he saw
me there walking and said, Hey,

do you want to come play Padel?

Is that in uh, Wai or Argentina?

Wai?

What's that?

Is that where you're

from originally?

No, no, I'm

from Enos Aires.

Oh, okay.

That was family vacation because
sometimes people from Argentina,

they go on vacation to Wai.

So that's why uh, I was there.

So what did you think
when you first saw it?

It's like there's a mini tennis.

love it.

Oh, that's great.

'cause it was totally
different than today.

Concrete court, we play with
wood rackets like the thing,

so it was totally different.

But when I played tennis, I
love to make servant body.

So at the beginning for me, like playing
Padel back in that time that you were

playing a lot in the net, you know,
you don't play too much on the back.

Right?

And there were different
shots done from today.

At the beginning I
said, okay, I like this.

I can be good, you know.

So, uh, Robbie told me, oh, why the,
when you come back to Buenos Aires

after vacation, you should try to start.

Playing and come to train with us.

We go to a club that is in the
north of the city of Buenos Aires,

Chu come and I said, okay, I'll go.

And uh, I think that was
February of 2, 19 91.

And I remember perfectly well.

I was opening the club at nine
and I was closing the club at

10:00 PM You got the fever.

You got the fever.

I was just sitting like this.

Waiting that someone was missing.

And I said, Hey.

I was like, I would say com.

I was like, no.

Yeah.

And I said, oh.

So I was just watching
every day the players.

Wow.

Because I wanted to
learn as fast as I can.

Yeah.

So I was just watching them, how
they played, what kind of shots they

were doing, how they move, and every
time I have time, I went to play.

And then in March I start
playing some tournaments.

I was going to university.

Suddenly I told my mom, Hey, you know,
I, I'm going to start playing Padel.

What?

Go to university?

You know?

No.

Well, that's the, the, the, his,
the short, long history about the

my how, how I entered the sport.

And you were in the, in the, in the, um,
national team and representing Argentina.

And you guys won the
first couple of years.

You guys won the World Cup, right?

Yeah.

First World Cup was 1992.

Um, every two years.

Yeah.

And I was from the beginning always
with the, with the Argentina team.

Um, back in that time there was,
um, there was difference between

Argentina and Spain that was a second
country because the professional

tour started before in Argentina.

So in Spain there were good players
also, but there was too many

difference of the amount of players.

So we, we were.

Having more players in Argentina than
in Spain, because still was very small.

The tour here in, in, uh, in, in Spain.

Mm. But you,

you, you, I mean in Argentina was
the first professional circuit.

Yes.

So when you guys take, start making
money, and then when did you decide

to move to Spain?

We start going to Spain since
1993 to play some tournaments.

Every year.

Was.

More tournaments in Spain coming.

So we start thinking about
that because also in Argentina

the tool was getting smaller.

They were having some
economic problems over there.

So I maybe in 19 98, 19 9, we saw that
the tool was going big in, in Spain.

So most of the players back in 2000,
we decided to move to to Spain.

Some of them, they came a couple of
years before, like Juanmar, or there

was another guy called Gabby Dominguez.

Uh, but most of the players, we start
moving in 2000 to Spain full time.

Full time.

Yeah.

We just move over there and
play over there all the time.

Yeah.

How was that changed because you're
coming from Argentina to new country,

uh, also trying to make a living, right?

I mean, it's kind of tough.

So how, how was that whole transition?

No, I

mean.

I mean, we were young singles,
you know, with a lot of energy.

You didn't mind where to sleep.

Spain is, is a similar place.

There's not too much difference,
you know, the language, everything

is so close to, to Argentina.

That, I mean, for me it
was not difficult at all.

Um, did you get help with your

family?

No.

Financially or just, you know, support?

No, the, the thing is, when I moved to
Spain, I was, I was, I was the number one.

So for me in terms of oh, the
prizes and the sponsorship,

how, how was it back then, the prizes
and the sponsorships compared to, well,

of course it's, it's, we were
talking about 25 years ago.

Yeah.

So it's a, it's a big
difference from today.

But we, we could make a way of living the

top, the top five.

You think?

Top five, yeah.

The

top players that you can
make a good way of living.

Um, well, so I was, I moved
with, with Mario Las SGAs.

He, because we were, we play a
lot of years in Argentina, so we

decided we are not, we are not,
we were not playing together.

I was playing with Juan Martin.

But we moved together, uh, you know,
outside of the city and where Yeah,

we started out with living over there.

Sounds

like a great time.

I'm telling you, go to
play panel in Spain, man.

I wish we could do it.

We could do it, man.

No, but you know what,

when I decided to go there, I said okay.

I was 20 when I, when I
moved there, I was 29.

So I said, okay, I'm going
here to play five years.

And then I go back.

I'm 25 years there.

I married, I married in Argentina, uh, in

Spain.

Yeah, but I met her, but I met her
in Eno Aires during those times.

And then I have three kids
and my life is over there.

It's 25 years.

Yeah.

Wow.

So now you went from, so at
that time you were number one.

Uh, when that did the, uh, pro Padel
Tour came because first it was Pro

Padel Tour then, uh, world Padel Tour.

Right.

When

we, when we were there, it was
the federation running the tour.

Okay.

So, um, I think that Prop
Padel tour, uh, became.

In 2007.

Okay.

If I'm not wrong.

Um, so then I played the Prop Padel Tour.

The Padel Pro Tour, sorry, Padel Pro
Tour, um, that were the same people that

they were doing the tournaments of, uh,
of the federation, but they decided to go

to together them and make a new company.

So we start playing that and most of
the tournaments, uh, maybe 99% of the

tournaments that were playing in Spain.

There was not too much outside.

We played sometimes in Mexico, in
Argentina, one tournament and one

workup in France, but most of the
professional tournaments were in.

So it was easy.

It was easier then.

Right.

Take the training, so then you
travel all, all around there.

Gotcha.

Um, and just the year that was
starting War Pal tour, that was 2013.

I finished playing my
career in the end of 2012.

Oh.

So the year before when I was 42.

So I decided to stop playing over there.

I played the last tournament, I
played the master finals, and then

I, I stopped there and then, yeah.

So what did,

so I mean, that's a great story.

I think that's everybody's Padel, Padel
players dream to do that, you know?

But what did you do afterwards?

Were, did you anticipate you, okay, you
were gonna retire and these were my plans?

Or did you retire and be like.

Wait to see options or any
doors to open or how, how did

you stay involved with Battle?

After Yeah,

after you retired?

During my career I was doing other things.

Okay.

Uh, developing other things.

Yeah.

And do other type of business.

Okay.

And then at the end of my career,
I decided to build a club.

Okay.

In, in Madrid.

And so I was more involved in that.

What was the name of the club?

What's the name?

The other name?

Padel people.

Yeah.

How'd you come up with

that?

Well, I mean, there was an agency that
they, we were, were helping us to, to

build the, the brand and everything.

So that was the cool
name back in the time.

Yeah.

Uh, and then was a combination of
having a club, uh, trained some players,

uh, doing some things with brands.

So I was super involved.

I stay a hundred percent involved
in Padel from the beginning.

Even I have was, I was doing
another things when a, when another

business outside from Padel.

Uh, but I decided to, my main
focus, uh, to be on Padel.

So I just start there and
this was in, back in 2013.

Then in 2014, I received a call from War
Palour that was of tour back in that time.

They want to find a way of
having one person to start.

Taking the tour outside from Spain.

So my main work over there was the
expansion of the tour outside from Spain.

So I was trying to see how I can
get in promoters around the world to

build the, the international tour.

So that was the work I did there for
with War Pal two for seven years.

Some of the, those years I took
also the, the responsibility of

building the sport department.

So I was doing, I was doing twice,
two things there in War Pal two, but.

It always, my main focus was to try to
bring the tour outside from, from Spain.

within those seven years, how many
countries did you were able to do that

with?

Wow.

Was was a nice, nice experience.

It was amazing because, uh,
well, but let's start, let's

start from, from, from the,
the first one that you closed.

I mean, that's the exciting part.

Yeah.

What country was that going outside?

Spain convinced somebody else
to do a, a Padel tournament.

You know,

it, it's, no, I mean, no.

Nobody knew what was Padel.

Exactly.

That, that's the, that's the,
that's the good thing because.

Now it's easy to make tournaments
outside from Spain because Yeah.

You know S worldwide.

Yeah.

It's nothing to be Back in that
time, 2014, you were knocking the

door of people because I knew them
from tennis or connections was

like, what are you talking about?

Alright.

Same thing right now in the USA,
it's starting to get to know,

but there's a lot of areas.

What is that?

But, but no, but, but still
was worse, eh, I tell you that.

Wow.

Yeah.

I mean, you are going to whatever,
France or Sweden or, or countries that

they don't even know what was that.

Right?

So we start building that, doing small
things, you know, like exhibitions.

Oh, that's smart.

Or challengers.

And then we were getting
the second, the next step.

So every year it was like.

First year I remember
it was two tournaments.

We were two tournaments
outside from Spain.

Okay.

Where, let's talk about the first years
were, um, first year was Argentina.

That's the easy one though, you know.

No, no, but I don't know what, but yeah,

you have to understand one thing
is when Rio, you are closer

to Anica than to Buenos Aires.

I mean, it's way, way south South.

At least it heard.

And

also, and also it's about, uh, there was.

It was difficult to find people that want
to invest, of course, you know, in putting

the money to make because they don't
know what it is because it was not easy.

So of course first was Argentina,
but, and then I have, I think I

have, that year was also, uh, Dubai
and Monte Carlo back in that time.

Yeah.

And then, and that's where the money's at.

But the money, you

convinced the Friz Friz Maori, right?

Yeah, he, he, he made I think two years
of the tournament, or three years.

I don't remember right now.

Yeah.

And then he, he stopped and
he start making his own tour.

But

So Fabric fast for everyone to know is
now the owner of the A one Padel tour.

Yeah.

Correct.

Yeah.

And then we made Dubai.

Um, and from there we start growing
each year because when I present the

Project to War Padel Tour, I told
them that in 10 years we'll have

10 tournaments outside from Spain.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

I think I thought that it was going
to be real because I think okay,

in 10 years I think we can do it,
but uh, but things went very well.

So when I left the company in
2021, I left them 15 tournaments.

Wow.

That's amazing.

Spain,

I mean, just from the exposure to
Padel to other countries, that's

pretty much what you were doing.

Yeah.

Introducing the world to Padel.

Yeah.

I, that's incredible.

That was a big, big, uh, big step that War
Palo tour did, uh, back in that time, you

know, because also they invest a lot of
money to build that outside from Spain.

So that brought a lot of more business
to all the, you know, the, the, the

things that we have in parallel.

Brands racks very smart.

Yeah.

Players.

Tv, everything.

So that was built in a
way that contraction.

Of course.

So when you bring the tour to these
places, Kada was going high, high.

So now I don't know how many countries
there are now, but maybe there are 20

countries playing the the tour right now.

Wow, that's incredible.

what was the step after that?

So, so you build it, when do you stop

working

at, at work?

No.

Well, I mean, in 2021, in middle
of the year, I received a call from

a, from a company, from Sweden, uh,
private equity Triton, that they

want to build a big ecosystem, you
know, and invest hard in Padel.

So, well, I got an offer from
them and I decided to move.

I was working seven years in War Pal.

Tour for me was a, was a pity
because I, I, I, I think that.

It was a nice work
doing over there for me.

It was really nice seeing how we can
grow the Padel outside from Spain.

Uh, but well, decisions,
uh, professional decisions.

I, I, I make the move and
I start working there.

In, in Triton there's a new company
called LED Up, uh, that company

where we are doing, we're, we are
buying different assets of cattle,

um, and we bought different things.

And

what, what type of assets can you gimme.

E-commerce, um, booking system,
um, and manufacturers, of course.

Okay.

To create the ecosystem.

Of course.

Exactly.

And also they have one tournament
in Sweden, one professional

tournament of So how many each?

How many, how many they bought
from each, uh, I mean, they bought

a lot of clubs in the Nordics.

Uh, also they build some
clubs in Germany, in uk.

Over a hundred, 150?

Yeah, like 150.

Okay.

And, uh, and then they bought
an e-commerce that was,

that is from, from Sweden.

And also they bought a, a manufacturer,
of course, that is meed one of the

leading companies in the world.

So when, when they bought all
this, one of my, my main work

over there was more, um, in meed.

Why?

Because it was a Spanish company.

I was living in Madrid.

Mm-hmm.

Makes sense.

You know, speak Makes sense.

Yeah.

Spanish language speaking for the company.

So.

They put me in that part
of the, of the business.

Um, so, well, my, my main work
over there was try to make me set,

increase everything in the company,
you know, sales, uh, brand position,

all this, you know, the way we,
we work all around the world.

So I think that after three
years, um, that now is a new

CEO working for the last year.

I think that, uh, we made, and we
are still making a, a great work

because I'm still involved with me.

Even I, I left, led up as
the, as the management team.

I'm advisor for them.

I'm international, like the head of
international relations, so, so I,

I work very, very close to the CEO
that she's really good at Cecilia

and she's making a great work.

And so what, right now, my main work there
in Mej Jose is more like advisory because,

um, eh, since last year in May, June
of last year, I start working from IMG.

Okay.

So let's, let's stop

there.

So let's talk about from when you,
how big was Mej when you, when you

stepped in, and how big is now in, um.

You know how much No, no.

I mean now

it's much

bigger.

course.

Um,

how many courts are, are,
are the guys producing per,

per, per year on average?

Around, around, maybe we, we are going
to be close this year around 800, 1000.

This year that you guys
are building the courts?

Exactly.

Okay.

The whole process from building
it to install to Exactly.

Put it out.

Uh, but, but year by year, the last
three, four years, the, the company

is, is increasing every year.

Um, and the work was, was really
good because also we are the official

core of Premier Padel, the Office,
international Padel Federation.

Also, we are building the
best tournaments in the world.

So the brand position of the,
of the company is really well.

Is, uh, is, uh.

Long and nice work that we did over there.

And, and in terms of, of, uh, building
clubs and, you know, all around the

world, we are doing great progress.

Uh, I think that, uh, there's a,
there's a great team that we have

there in meed, so I believe that,
uh, we have a in front and great

business for the next, the next years.

Okay.

And, and now tell us a little bit
about that exciting call that you get.

With IMG, how, how that
came out all about?

Well, that was, uh, more
or less at the beginning.

Yeah.

In January, March of last year, uh, I got
a call from, from, uh, from a guy that

was working with me in led up, uh, that
he already left the company and he was

approached also by, by IMG, and he said.

Well, there's opportunity here.

Do you?

Well,

let, let's, let's explain to
our, our viewers and listeners.

What, what is IMG?

Yeah.

'cause they might not know what it is.

Yeah, well, so how big it is.

Yeah.

IMG is the, is the biggest,
uh, international sport

entertainment company right now.

It's owned by Endeavor.

Uh, and, uh, and is WME, that is
William Morris Endeavor is the

biggest artist company that is in Lei.

So.

IMG belongs to that company and, but
the history of IMG, it starts because

they represent professional players of
different sports and one of the biggest

business they have is they represent
the best tennis players in the world.

Most of the TE best tennis
players are represented by IMG.

So what they decided and they saw
Padel a good opportunity to make a new

apart department that is IMG Padel.

Oh, we belong to tennis, uh,
clients that is run by Max Abound.

Uh, so we belong.

We are a leg from IMG tennis and, uh,
well now our work is to try to build

the, the department of IMG Padel.

Try to bring as much business that we can.

Uh, so when

did

they develop

that, that part, the MG Padel, when did

that was created?

This was launched in June.

Of last year.

what is their goals?

What are, and you're part of

that, right?

Yeah, I'm part with another, with
another partner that is Danny Dios,

Daniel Di, and we work together.

And also, uh, we have, uh, Arturo
as the, as our first client.

Wow.

So that's a, that's a good
client for the first one.

Yeah.

And, and, and Mickey.

And Mickey, his, his, his manager.

Yep.

Also works, uh, close to us.

Yes.

So what's the goal there?

A MG Padel?

What are they trying to do?

What's the

model and what are, what's
their goal, first of all, is

the representation of clients.

Okay.

Uh, that is, uh, as we said, we have,
Arturo just said, um, and maybe in the

future we can have also more players.

That's one part of the business.

Okay.

That is very clear.

Mm-hmm.

Is the core business of IMG.

Uh, but also IMG makes
a lot of other things.

Yeah.

They they own tournaments.

They own Miami Open.

Exactly.

They own, they own tournaments.

So they do events.

So we, as IMG Pad, we would
like to do events as well.

Um, what also we do, we do consultancy for
companies that they want to be involved in

Padel, you know, like a, like an agency.

For example, let's say if you are
a brand you come to, you come to

IMG and I, I can prepare and I
can do everything around Padel.

What do you wanna do around Padel?

We can do everything because we have
the expertise, we have the experience,

we have the connections, we have the
knowledge, we, we know how to, to

build anything, everything around pal.

So we are doing different,
the three things, it's about

clients, consultancy, and events.

So those are the three things that we
are focused right now in IMG Cloud.

Okay.

And how are those verticals going?

How, how are they developing?

Well, they're, they're doing well.

I mean, we just, no have, not even,
not even one year, but we are seeing

now in the last three, four months
that things are really moving.

Now we built, we did an activation,
a big activation for, for platonic

during the rackets and Miami Premier.

Mm-hmm.

Then we built, um, uh, three
courts in the Miami Open also for

doing an activation over there.

So there was, that really was really good.

How did that event go?

Really good.

I mean, uh, we have 15 days an activation
crew in the in Miami Open and was packed

of people a lot exposure to tennis
players to see what Padel is right.

And the people that were coming to watch
Padel, they said, okay, I wanna try this.

So was Ultra in charge of
bringing, uh, people to the court.

So they have their own team with
coaches and all and that, so they

make a a great work because they
were going around all the fun song.

To bring people and, you know, and, and
let them play and know what is the sport.

So, uh, it was a great success.

And then also we did the, the public
Padel tournament that was, uh, like

the Master of the Red Padel tour.

The red Padel circuit,

yeah.

Yeah.

So we make like the master of
three tournaments over there.

Uh, during, for the last four
days with the best players of us

men and women was really good.

Really nice.

I mean, I love that activation.

I saw, I saw the pictures of, of the.

Random people walking into
the corner just playing.

I think that's a way
to, to, to grow Padel.

That was, was really nice.

I mean, it will be great
for you guys to do it.

Also, the US Open and all the big US
tournaments to really introduce Padel.

Yeah, I think that was a, was
for example what what we can do.

And I think that we, we can replicate
this in other, in other venues.

Yes.

That's fantastic.

So when it comes to representing Artur
Coya, what, what is IMGs responsibility?

Can you talk a little bit about that?

Some people don't know.

Let's say somebody
represents an an athlete.

What are, what are the responsibilities?

What are they trying to do
and what are their goals?

I mean,

one of our goals is to, is to
bring the player brands to him.

Okay.

Players that, uh, brands that they're
interested in, in, in sponsoring Arturo.

So that's the biggest one.

Right, exactly.

Okay.

So that is the, the, the clients
is, is more focused on that.

Okay.

So let's say there's a big brand that
wants to be involved with Arturo.

So, so how is that going right now?

Are the brands starting to evolve
and say, Hey look, I wanna be,

uh, be involved in the Padel?

I mean, is that happening right now?

'cause I don't see the big, big brand.

It's so like 19 Adidas
and stuff like that.

It's,

no, it's true.

What you're saying is true.

Um, but it's coming and it's coming.

Um, soon.

Soon there will be some big
brands, worldwide brands that they

will come into powder for sure.

Okay.

Um, but now you have involved Red Bull.

Red Bull.

It's involved in there.

Yeah.

I mean that's a huge, no,
no, no, of course, of course.

And but they will come more.

They will come more for sure.

In the next couple of years.

That'd be great.

'cause then you'll see
a little more growth.

No, now, but more exposure.

When when I start, when I, if we
go back, when I start doing the

War Pal tour expansion, I, I was
feeling in the beginning that

this was going to be really good.

You know, when I start receiving, you
know, how was my talks with the, with the

promoters in each country, I was feeling
that it was going to really happen.

And now it's the same.

I know.

And I, and I believe is that YMG
got into Padel, uh, is because they

feel that the brands are coming.

Yeah.

You know, I think everybody does.

Like, um, in the US I'm talking about us.

'cause I'm here, I'm American.

So I feel like everybody does
feel that and they love to play.

But it's how to create
a business out of it.

Is it sometimes difficult right
now where it's infantile right now?

You know, not looking five to 10 years.

Yeah, it could be really, really big,
but it's, uh, everybody loves to play.

But how do you get people to the events?

You know, a lot of
people don't even watch.

No.

How do you get 'em involved?

More to battle?

It's true.

There's two different, there's two
different, uh, words of Padel, you

know, is the social part, right?

The consumer.

And then it is the, the events, no.

Mm-hmm.

But if I go back and see other countries
like Spain, Argentina, even France,

Ang Ross last year, Italy, Sweden,
when, if you see that happened, I

mean, when I was playing Padel back
in 2010, we never thought that in a,

in a stadium would be 15,000 people.

But that is happening.

So.

In each country with the, when
Padel start growing, it will happen.

And then you will see in five years
or maybe less, you have stadiums

here in, in I, so in America
with 10,000 people watching.

Yeah.

But that will happen because that
is happening in other countries.

Yeah.

But, but Europe and other countries
a little different than the US is.

It's a little different.

And I'm seeing a lot of, I mean,
we're seeing companies from Europe

trying to apply the same model and.

Yeah, but I don't, certain
areas I don't see working.

I think it's a matter of time.

People in the United States are, they love
sports and they're crazy about tennis.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

And I think eventually it, he will come,
it, it's a matter of time because, so

now let's talk about what, in the past
five years, let's talk about the, the

growth that you have seen worldwide.

It's a really, that.

Double or triple for what it
was five years ago right now.

Yeah.

And more importantly, well, how do you
see the growth here in the US side?

Well, that's, that was my second
question, but let's talk about

the world growth first.

I mean that that is something that
everybody knows that after the

pandemic PA got crazy in the world.

Yeah.

In the world.

So lemme ask you, if there wasn't
a pandemic, do you think, uh,

it wouldn't have grown as much
or it wouldn't be where it's at?

It's

a good, it's a good question,
but, but things are.

They changed too much
in the last 10 years.

You know, with the social media,
with all the things that everybody

has information very quickly.

Yeah.

Before it was not like that.

Yeah.

When we are, when we, we are
playing in Argentina, back in

Spain, you are going, Nope.

Nobody knew.

Yeah.

You know what was patterned.

Yeah, that's true.

Because you don't have
access to anything now.

It is very easy.

Yeah.

To have access to what is going on
in the Miami Open with our course

or what's going in Premier or what's
going in this event or whatever.

It's very easy.

Uh, even today, you can see
what's happening in the, in,

in, in the tour in San Chile.

Very easy, right?

So, so the information
makes a lot of difference.

Yeah.

Uh, for the sport, for, for the
sport and for the community.

Uh, and if you ask me for us,

well, let's talk about the world
because I know me has built.

And iconic places like the, the, you
know, uh, pyramids in Egypt or, or

the French open in Felicia or the
Rome, I mean, in, in five star hotels.

Let's talk about, because that
five years ago, it will never, you,

you will never imagine that that

will would have happened.

Because what I, what I think,
guys, is that when the sport

gets in, then goes really fast.

Creates a lot of traction.

Exactly.

One that the sport gets in.

And that is example that I saw in all
these years, in the last 15 years, in

all the countries, you know, they were
getting small and then suddenly the

people, they start playing, they're
making more clubs, more clubs, and

suddenly the sport grows like boom.

And that was happening in Italy.

What's happening now in France?

What is happening now in uk?

So over Middle East too?

Well in the Middle East.

It's a long time that they're
playing a lot of Padel over there.

And it's coming to Asia, the mean, yeah.

Me.

And we are starting to receive petitions
from a lot of places for courts.

And when you got this information
about, because the first thing

that is when you're going to build
a club, you call company that

wants to build a court, right?

Right.

So we receive that information
and we receive all these leads.

That we are seeing that Padel
is coming to every place.

So you got that data Africa Analytics
showing that we are seeing a

lot

concept Africa.

We, I mean our viewers, huge.

Third audience is South Africa, South
Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

You know what I mean?

We have a lot of viewers from
there, but you can see that also.

Yeah,

perfectly well.

So the sport is growing
every year and will not stop.

This is going to be all over
the, the world for sure.

A hundred percent.

And if we go to us, it's a place to be.

Alright.

Now when it comes to events, yeah, I
see people playing, but I don't see, I

see small percentage of people actually
supporting players and going to the

events and actually watching here.

Yeah.

Here in us, in us, that's the difference.

In, in, in Europe,

I think Europe is, but it's
a, but it's a matter of time.

It's a matter of time.

Uh, believe me, it's a matter of time.

Of course.

Depends of the type of events.

Right.

You know.

Uh, also the, the people, they like
to see the competition, the people,

they like to see the players to
play, you know, for the ranking.

So it depends on the event.

You will see, uh, uh, people going there.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, of course there would
be big events, smaller events,

private events, clubs, events.

All these things will be different.

All are good for the sport.

But in terms of building a
stadium for a thousand of people.

I mean, even in tennis, take time.

If you, if you see the Miami open,
it's full of people, but then maybe if

you do a, a small exhibition of four
players, it's not going to be the same.

Yeah.

So, uh, and that's happening
all over the world.

That's why you go to Rolan Ross
last year and you see 12,000

people watching the finals.

Wow.

12,000 people stadium ro.

That's not bad.

Yeah, that's

good.

The forgo the full, full stadium as well.

So those things, uh, will
come here also in us.

It's a matter of time.

So now let's talk about
me last year to this year.

Where do you see the growth, uh,
on courts orders or where is the

projection compared to last year?

How many courts did you guys did?

And this

year, what is the projection?

You're talking about us or the us?

The us Well, last year was a big change.

Not only for us, for, for, for, for
the industry, for the, the industry.

Uh, was a big change here and this year.

Is going, when you refer a big change,
what do you mean by big change?

Big change is like coming from 20 to 200.

Okay.

That jump, I mean that jump, that jump us.

So that's why when you, when
you see those numbers, you see,

wow, this is going to be big.

Yeah.

This is going to, this is going getting.

It is.

And when you receive petitions
from different cities of

all us, you see No, no, no.

It's not.

It's not only Miami or
Houston or New York.

Yeah.

No, no.

You're receiving from.

All over the us uh, leads and petitions.

So then is when you, it's the same as
was when I was saying before about Europe

and Asia, all that, when you receive that
information is that things are moving.

Yeah.

The la the last two years
I saw it really moving.

The last years No sec. Wow.

And

this year also is going
to increase from what?

From last year?

Yeah.

Now comes the time when.

The clubs, they start to start moving.

How they do, if they're doing well, right?

How they do the management, you
know, all these kind of thing,

coaches, all these kind of things
has to be really well done, you know?

Yeah.

And that is the second part of happen
and that's what we're trying to,

to help as much as possible happen.

Yeah.

We're going to a lot of clubs,

you know, not, you know, hemorrhaging
money obviously, but for how long?

Six months, 10 months, 12 months,
you know, and trying to get people

inside of the the doors 'cause
they don't know what they're doing.

They're

getting into a business that.

The is.

They know, but they don't go.

The thing is, they come, they
come down here and they see

a club and they're like, wow.

And then they go in the build and they
think, okay, everybody's gonna come.

You know, my

advice is that, that they try to get,
uh, as much knowledge from people from,

from, from the industry as they can.

They need that.

Yeah.

They need that because
they know how to run them.

They must know how to run a Padel club.

Yeah.

It's not the same as running a gym, for
example, port facility or some experience.

It's so different.

Yeah.

And they need to have the experience.

And they have to know about the sport too.

They have to know about sport.

They have to bring good coaches.

The coaches are the heart
of the, of the club.

Basic business.

Uh, yeah.

So, uh, yeah, I think that they, they
must have some advice from, from right in,

in, in IMG in one of those verticals.

Are you guys building
clubs or acquiring clubs?

No, we are not doing that.

But we are, we are advising, we are
doing the consultancy for, for big

companies that they want to build clubs.

Yes.

what's that process?

Is it just, uh.

Service of work?

Or is it like really an in depth, like a
consulting HH how, how do you guys, no.

You make a

deal for a consultant, like a
year consulting or six months

consultancy for helping them and
what would they expect there?

What?

What can they expect in
that one year of consulting?

Teaching them how to run, how to manage
the clubs, is the management process.

Manage day-to-day operations
from A through Z. Exactly.

Post right.

Day to day, post, exactly.

Coaching, coaching.

Also, how about pre-opening?

Of of course, everything, everything.

I mean, normally, normally they, they
location, we receive that petitions

from, from the first day that they have
the idea and, and they come to us and

say, okay, could you help me to start
building this, this location, rent,

uh, the ability, uh, how to build it.

The whole business plan.

Exactly.

So you guys do the whole process?

Yeah, we help, we try to help
them in all, all the process.

And you, you guys charge for a six
month process or a one year process?

Yeah, it depends.

Sometimes, sometimes you have a
contract for one year, sometimes

you have a contract for six months.

Gotcha.

Uh, so he's a, he is a way of helping them
because the guy that I work with, Danny

has a lot of experience also building
clubs, but he had a few clubs and then he

passed through, through management of, of
different clubs in different countries.

So he knows.

A lot of experience what happen in
different countries or what you have

to do, what you don't have to do.

Yeah.

Right.

It doesn't think that here is going to
happen the same, but at least you have

some advice and also how to framework
make your your club more profitable.

In the, in the model, it is the
revenue just coming from the

consulting fees or you're monetizing,
let's say with the vendors as well.

No, no.

It's coming from the construction.

Straight from the consulting.

Exactly.

So baby, where do you see the growth here
in the United States on court orders?

I mean, are they doubling from 200 to 400?

No, I think, no, no, I don't
believe that it's going to happen.

That, uh, but, but uh, after this
two weeks here with architects also,

you see that it's a lot of movement.

A lot of movement, and of
course you will increase.

Uh, maybe in the middle of the
year we will know more about that

numbers, how, how things are going.

Uh, but for sure will be maybe 20, between
20 and 30% more like than last year.

Gotcha.

Uh, now representing, uh, players, you got
through Kuo, is there anybody else that

you have or do you foresee in the next 12
months you signing up any other players?

First we want to do a, a, a
really good work with him.

So really good work with him is bringing,
uh, new brands, uh, helping him, you

know, elevate, uh, the, his brand, uh,
position our tour doing really well with

Mickey, his manager, because what we do
is IMG works, uh, head to head with his

manager, with his personal manager that is
Mickey that is involved with us too, also.

So that, that is our first step, you know,
bringing something really good to to him.

And once we do this, then we will start.

Thinking about if we can bring one
woman to the, to the representation,

I think is that it's very important.

Can you tell us who you're
thinking of or, yeah, yeah.

I mean, there's a lot
of really good players.

Yeah.

So also has to, we have to think about if
they have contracts with another companies

or not, because we, we don't wanna
step in when, when they have contracts.

So it's a matter of time also.

And also we look an IMG, something
that has in the core, in the core.

Of his company is the next gen.

Gotcha.

The young guys.

The, the young.

Yeah.

So how, how, what's your strategy on,
on, uh, with Arthur Koyo here in the

us and how do, what's the strategy on,
let's just say, um, giving exposure and

letting the Americans know who he is?

Because right now.

A lot of people don't.

Yeah.

Because fortunately, no, it's normal
that because it's a new sport.

So what's a strategy?

We, we do a, an, uh, in a magazine like
bulk, we do an interview with, with him.

Yes.

That, so that is good.

I mean, we are, we are going to, to try
to help, uh, him in all the connections

that IMG has to make him, you know,
uh, we have more exposure in the us.

I think that he made a great move.

Coming to, to live here in, in Miami.

Um, but again, it's, it's more
or less what I said say before.

It is a matter of time and if, if
you're doing the in the right way.

And if you do it how you must
do it, uh, it will get soon.

It will get soon.

Hmm.

That's beautiful.

Yeah.

So maybe let's talk about a, a story
here that I, I quite remember vividly.

Well, I think it was
the year 20 12, 20 14.

You were the face of Windwood
Padel Club back in the day.

Oh,

yeah.

What, what year was that?

That was,

what year was that?

Yeah, that was while when, when

you,

you got

contacted by Danny.

Yeah, I was, I was contacted by, I
was contacted by a, by a guy, uh,

from Spain that, uh, he was connected
with, uh, the investors from Mexico.

Okay.

Um, and he, he connected me.

Uh, because he wanted to have a face.

But, uh, of the professional Padel, I
was, I was not even more a professional

player, but I was already involved in
the industry of Padel, so he wanted

to have like someone that could help
him to get connections around the

world, because Pedro was just new.

New zero.

Super new.

Yeah.

What, what year was that?

20, 20 14. I think it was

2014 or 2015.

Yeah.

Back in that time.

It was, it was no club in Miami.

I mean, that was the, it was Al Riel

Padel Life and Windwood

and No, it was, I think that
was, um, um, um, the one that is

real Pat, real, real Padel Yeah.

Was, yeah, I think Life.

Well you were building

Windwood.

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Uh, so I was involved in,
in, in the very beginning.

And then when the people from
Mexico, they sold, uh, I left.

Oh, okay.

Uh, so it was a couple, I
think it was a couple of years.

Um, but

did you see it back then in 2014?

It was very low.

Was gonna happen.

Very little.

Was, was, was really new and nobody
knew and nobody was playing as much.

Like, uh, I think that when,
when they said about Windwood and

the spot that is wind was, oh,
this is going to be really good.

Uh, but I was involved only for two years.

Okay.

The beginning.

So.

And that's

when Marco Lar came or not?

Yes.

That was Marcos.

Because one of the things
that, um, this co dis guy from

the company, they asked me.

That they want to bring someone
from, from Spain, you know, that

that could ha, could be the head
coach for Windward when it opens.

So, um, through Clemente, because he, he
knows a lot of coaches in Spain, all that.

He introduced me to Marcos and I spoke
to Marcos and Marcos loved the idea

and, uh, and he decided to come here.

The thing was that it took
more time than expected.

Due to permissions and all that.

To to open, to open the club.

The club.

So Marcos start doing things by himself
and then we know the history of Marcos

that he's really doing really good.

So yeah, the first connection that
he has to come here was through me.

Okay.

Uh, because, uh, I have to bring some
co head coach, and Ola told me the hand,

the hand and CIO told me, bring Marcos.

But then when he was here, I was
not responsible for all the Yeah,

yeah.

The, the, the great things that he did.

So I have the only responsible
that I told him, if you wanna

come, and then he made his move.

Right,

right.

That's, that's a, that's a fun story to
that Nobody really knows, you know, how

come Marcos, you know, came here and all
that, but you were the one who actually.

Open the door.

No,

I mean, I don't open the door.

I just ask him if he would
like to come to work here.

Yeah.

The thing that that door was, was
not good because it was, yeah.

It took too long to open that place.

Then another door opened, you know,
for him, but he may himself, he

may himself to open another doors.

It was not, I mean, I was
not the in charge of that.

So I'm happy that he
made really, really well.

Okay.

Very

well.

It was, uh, finally, I
mean, before we end this.

I want to ask you one thing that
I always thought I never ask you.

Who was your best partner when
you were playing professionally?

Oh, the ponder That you really,
you connected with him and, and

you were like,

you're

gonna

upset a few people.

No, I mean, it's a tough, it's a tough,
it's a tough, uh, answer because I think

that I have the, I was really lucky to
play with a lot of really good players.

I mean, the beginning I
played with, oh, he is

going political.

No, but no, because I
have a good relation.

I mean, I have a. Yeah, with most of them.

You wants to keep that too.

No, no, but it's true.

It's true.

I have a regulation with most of them.

So Which one?

The one, even when I go, when I
come here to my, to my, come on.

You gotta choose one.

I spent a lot of time with Juan
Martin that he was partner.

Which one?

You have the best results.

I think that the best results
were when I was number one.

I mean, if we have to do the best
results was when you come number one

and was with Alejandro Las, uh, three
years and one year with Juan Diaz.

Okay.

Uh, but that, that was in Argentina and
one, yeah, three was in Argentina and

one year, but playing a lot in Spain
and the, and 2000 was with Juanmar

playing all the time here in Spain.

How about the one you're most
social with and had the best,

you know, personality with, but
maybe didn't get the best results?

No, I played six years
with Mario Las SGEs.

We were number two in the
world for a lot of years.

We have a friendship.

Even we don't see each other because he
lives in Argentina and I live in Madrid.

We are, we have been very close always.

And um, then I have a great
relation with, with Juan Martin.

Yeah.

Uh, as I said, when I, when I come
here to Miami, I stay Sam's house.

I spend a lot of time with him.

Well, you have

known each other for 40 years.

I mean,

you know.

Yeah.

And then, uh, I still have a,
you know, uh, a relation with

Gabby Reca that I play with him.

Yeah.

Sam, I see Mattia that I play with him.

Then I saw now Christian Gutierrez
that I haven't seen for the

last years because he was living
between Argentina and Barcelona.

Uh, well, I mean,

and you say you get a lot of data,
a lot of people, you know, inquiring

about courts and consulting.

What states in the USA do you see most
of them coming from, or, or states

that you're like, wow, that looks
like it's gonna develop now in battle?

Oh, as I told you before, we are
receiving petition from all Over Us.

But which, which states do you see that,
Hey, we're getting a lot from here.

I, I wouldn't even expect from that state.

I mean, it's like.

Now we're doing a, for example,
now we're doing a club in Denver.

Denver, weeks ago.

In Atlanta.

Atlanta, yeah.

Charlotte.

Charlotte, yep.

Um,

la uh, anything in the
middle of the country.

I don't know.

It's gonna take a while, man.

Tell me.

I mean, Kansas or,

we did a club, ccp, we did
a club in Kansas already.

Oh, really?

Wow.

Yeah.

Wow, wow.

So then Connecticut?

Um, Chicago.

Chicago.

Ohio.

Chicago.

Boston, yeah.

Oh, in Boston.

Yeah.

The Oh, interest.

So when you, when you ask me,
I tell you, I mean, I don't

know all the places in America.

Eh, know by memory.

But I can tell you that we are
receiving petitions from every place.

Are you, are you getting petitions
from, uh, country clubs that

they wanna put one or two courts?

Yes.

We start.

It's not so, uh, fast as we
spec, but it's coming also.

Yeah,

think so.

'cause a lot of the country clubs,
they were always golfing, tennis.

Now they're adding Padel.

And I see everywhere in the
United States that they're putting

No, no, it's coming.

I mean, we have our own team here in us.

I'm just, uh, answering this from the
information that I received from them

because as I told you before, I'm, I'm
much more involved in IMG I'm in, in,

of course, in my Jose, Jose, I'm still
like, I like a advisor consultancy

More episodes

Chapters

What is Padel Smash Academy?