In this episode of Padel Smash Academy , Cesc and Julian sit down with Mike Dorfman, the CEO of the Pro Padel League (PPL), to talk about the explosive growth of Padel and the league’s mission to bring the sport into the American spotlight. Mike shares how his background in tech and insurance shaped his vision for the PPL, why he believes padel is at the tipping point in the U.S., and what it takes to turn eyeballs into diehard fans. They dive into the league’s luxury brand partnerships with Adi...
Jun 19, 2025•49 min
In this episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Kari Gunnarsson , the visionary CEO and former top-100 badminton pro behind Clutch , the most innovative AI camera system built specifically for Padel. Kari shares the incredible journey from building AI tools for elite badminton coaching during the COVID lockdowns to launching Clutch across 15+ countries. Discover how Clutch is revolutionizing padel with: Instant match highlights and performance insights Real-time AI analytics for coaches and playe...
May 23, 2025•31 min
In this inspiring episode of the Padel Smash Academy Podcast , Cesc & Julian sit down with a true Padel pioneer and rising star: Adrian Reino and his daughter Ornella Beltramino, the current #1 ranked female junior player in the United States. Adrian shares the remarkable journey of opening the first-ever padel club in the U.S. back in 2009 , building a community before anyone knew what Padel was. From putting up nets on empty courts and advertising in newspapers to shaping the roots of the ...
May 22, 2025•30 min
In this follow-up interview, Cesc and Julian sit down once again with Nalle Grinda , co-founder and Chief of Padel at Padel X , to explore how one of the most ambitious padel projects in the U.S. has grown since our last chat — when construction had just wrapped. From hosting the largest tournaments in U.S. padel history to training the next generation of American talent, Padel X has become a cornerstone in the sport’s development across South Florida and beyond. In this episode, Nalle shares: W...
May 19, 2025•40 min
In this episode of the Padel Smash Academy Podcast , Cesc sits down with Sabah Alsabah , the founder of Padel Up LLC , a standout club located in Sterling, Virginia . Sabah shares his journey into the world of padel, his entrepreneurial background, and what it really took to launch a successful padel club in the U.S. From navigating the early stages of launching the business to scaling up his membership base , Sabah opens up about the strategies that worked, the challenges he faced, and the less...
May 08, 2025•22 min
Get ready to elevate your padel game! In this exciting new episode of the Padel Smash Academy podcast, hosts Cesc and Julian sit down with Jerry Tafich, the representative for the innovative padel brand OXDOG in the USA and Mexican markets. OXDOG isn't just another brand; they're a team of passionate engineers, designers, and sports professionals with a decade-long history of revolutionizing sports equipment. Starting with groundbreaking materials in floorball (indoor hockey), where they became ...
May 07, 2025•17 min
In this episode of the Padel Smash Academy podcast, Julian and Cesc sit down with the visionary team behind Lusotendas Structures —a benchmark brand in the design and construction of sports canopies and structures. From their humble beginnings as a family business crafting awnings, to becoming the leading provider of padel court roofing in Portugal and a growing force internationally, the Lusotendas team shares their journey of generational craftsmanship, innovation, and global expansion. Tune i...
May 06, 2025•24 min
Welcome to another exciting episode of Padel Smash Academy! Today, Cesc and Julian sit down with Carlos Carijo, CEO of the Asia Pacific Padel Tour and a dynamic entrepreneur driving the explosive growth of padel across Asia. Connecting all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Carlos dives deep into how he built a thriving padel ecosystem across more than a dozen countries, his innovative approach to tournaments mixing amateurs and pros, and the challenges and successes he's faced in markets like Indonesia...
May 05, 2025•52 min
In this episode of our RacquetX 2025 Interview Series, Cesc and Julian sit down with Gabriel Perez-Krieb—Executive Chairman of Chosen Foods, Chairman of Taktika Padel, and owner of the San Diego Stingrays Padel team. Gabriel shares his vision for growing the sport of Padel in the USA, highlighting the importance of collaboration over competition. With years of executive leadership under his belt—from serving as Mexico's Trade Commissioner for the U.S. to running companies in tech and consumer go...
Apr 23, 2025•15 min
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 visiona...
Apr 18, 2025•50 min
In this captivating episode of the Padel Smash Academy Podcast, hosts Cesc and Julian sit down with Tom Farquharson, Managing Director and Co-Founder of The Padel School, one of the premier education platforms dedicated to growing padel globally. Tom shares his inspiring journey from professional tennis—where he reached the ATP Top 400 and clinched the junior Wimbledon title—to becoming a key figure in the global padel community. The conversation dives deep into the vibrant world of The Padel Sc...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min
In this inspiring episode of Padel Smash Academy , Cesc and Julian sit down with power couple Javier Barahona, FIP #26 ranked player, and Sabrina Suarez, co-founder of the bold and creative fashion brand 30Love . They open up about navigating life on and off the court—balancing love, professional sports, and entrepreneurship. Javier dives deep into what it’s like competing at the highest level, his views on partnerships, sponsorships, and where he sees padel growing in the U.S. Meanwhile, Sabrin...
Apr 17, 2025•47 min
In this power-packed episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Santiago and Diego, the co-founders of Sunrise Padel Capital , a pioneering investment group focused on accelerating the growth of padel clubs across the United States. From their roots in tennis to their current leadership in the padel investment space, Santi and Diego share their journey, insights, and vision for the sport. 🔍 What you'll hear in this episode: How two former D1 tennis players from Mexico fell in love with padel and tu...
Apr 15, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Padel Smash Academy , Cesc and Julian sit down with Agustin Rotsztain , owner of Ultimate Padel and the official Cork Padel ambassador in the USA . From club building to premium padel gear, Agustin shares his journey, his passion for growing the sport, and why Cork is redefining what a luxury Padel racket can be. 💬 Tune in as we talk: The rise of Cork Padel in America How Cork Padel is helping grow the game Insights from a true padel entrepreneur This one’s for the players, t...
Apr 15, 2025•52 min
In this episode of the Padel Smash Academy podcast, Cesc and Julian sit down with Tincho from Tower Padel to uncover how anyone can successfully launch a Padel apparel brand by leveraging Chinese manufacturers. Tincho shares insider tips on sourcing quality products, managing international partnerships, and navigating the competitive padel market. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with practical advice for turning your padel apparel dreams...
Apr 11, 2025•22 min
Join hosts Cesc and Julian from Padel Smash Academy in an insightful episode featuring Pablo Carro, the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Playtomic, the leading digital platform revolutionizing padel around the world. Pablo shares his personal journey from being an avid tennis player to becoming deeply passionate about padel, and how this passion sparked the creation of Playtomic in 2017. Discover the story behind Playtomic's rapid growth, from its early challenges in digitizing padel b...
Apr 10, 2025•29 min
Join Cesc and Julian in an exciting new episode of Padel Smash Academy, where they sit down for an exclusive interview with Pedro Brito e Cunha, the founder and CEO of Volt Padel! Known for their distinctive premium design and exceptional quality, Volt rackets have quickly become the favorites of Cesc & Julian. In this insightful conversation, Pedro dives into the fascinating journey behind Volt Padel, sharing how the unique brand name was born and the special meanings behind each racket mod...
Mar 26, 2025•23 min
In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, Julian and Cesc sit down with Patrick and Conor Shields from Fromuth Racquet Sports Distribution, a trusted racket sports distributor with over 50 years in the business. Fromuth is known as the ultimate one-stop shop for clubs and pro shops, offering everything from Padel rackets and balls to shoes, apparel, and court accessories. Patrick and Conor share valuable insights into how Fromuth supports small clubs by simplifying access to top brands like Wilson...
Mar 25, 2025•25 min
In this exclusive interview, Cesc and Julian from Padel Smash Academy sit down with Lucio Mormile, CEO and founder of Hirostar, a dynamic Padel brand born from Lucio's personal experience and passion for the game. Lucio shares the fascinating story of how Hirostar was created during the height of the pandemic in 2020. After experiencing frustration when his expensive, high-end racket broke just one month after purchase, Lucio was driven by a simple yet powerful question: "How much would it actua...
Mar 24, 2025•39 min
In this exclusive interview, Padel Smash Academy hosts Cesc Caceres and Julian Wortelboer sit down with Tennis Legend David Nalbandian to discuss his journey from the top of the ATP Tour to his new passion: Padel! 🚀 David talks about: ✅ His transition from professional tennis to padel ✅ His ownership and involvement in Premier Padel Miami P1 ✅ Long-term strategies to invest in the U.S. padel market ✅ The importance of simply getting people through the door to experience padel As a former World ...
Mar 19, 2025•12 min
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Cesc & Julian tease the launch of the Padel Smash Academy Certification Program! We’re bringing in-person and online coaching certification, ensuring that coaches across the USA are equipped to grow the sport and elevate the game. In this episode of Coffee Talk, Cesc and Julian dive into the business of Padel coaching—from both a club owner’s and a coach’s perspective. They break down: ✅ What makes a great Padel coach 🏆 ✅ 1099 vs. W2 – Which is better for clubs and coaches...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min
In this episode of Coffee Talk, Cesc & Julian dive into the business side of Padel—served with a side of gossip! ☕🔥 Filmed at the beautiful Pura Vida at Reserve Padel Sole Mia, they sip on their favorite coffees and break down what it really takes to launch a successful Padel club. 🚀 Topics Covered: ✅ The surge of entrepreneurs looking to start Padel clubs 📈 ✅ The three key things investors look for before saying yes 💰 ✅ Common mistakes to avoid when launching a Padel club ❌ ✅ Why Market...
Mar 11, 2025•19 min
What do WU Wear, Baby Phat, and the hottest new padel brand have in common? Scott London—watch as he unveils GLDN PNT, the game-changing apparel for padel players by padel players! Cesc and Julian sit down with Scott London, the mastermind behind GLDN PNT, a brand created by Padel players, for Padel players. With a legendary career in the apparel industry—from WU Wear to Baby Phat—Scott brings his expertise to the fastest-growing sport in the world. In this exclusive interview, Scott reveals the...
Mar 05, 2025•26 min
Cesc & Julian sit down with the one and only Fernando "Bela" Belasteguín , the greatest padel player of all time! With 16 years as World No. 1 , 230 career titles , and an unmatched legacy, Bela shares insights into his historic career, the future of padel, and his new leadership role in Premier Padel League. In this interview, we cover: ✅ The mindset that kept him No. 1 for 16 years and how padel has evolved ✅ His role in the Premier Padel League and why he’s investing in the sport’s future...
Feb 24, 2025•27 min
In this exclusive interview, Cesc & Julian sit down with Andi Neugarten, the Chief Padel Addict and founder of 6LoveSports, to talk about her incredible journey from tennis to Padel, her passion for growing women’s Padel, and how she’s building a community that empowers female players across the U.S. 💪 90+ marathons. Triathlons. Ironmans. Andi is in elite shape, and she shares how her athletic background fuels her drive to connect and elevate women in Padel. 🏆 6LoveSports (6LS) – "For the ...
Feb 20, 2025•29 min
In this episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Joseph Benlolo , partner at The Bespoke Club , to talk about his love for Padel and his journey as an entrepreneur. Joseph shares his experience as a creative and idea-driven business mind , detailing how his vision and passion led him to The Bespoke Club—one of Miami’s premier destinations for luxury, custom-tailored fashion . Nestled in the heart of Brickell's financial district , The Bespoke Club redefines sophistication, offering an unparalleled...
Feb 12, 2025•27 min
In this powerful and emotional interview, Cesc and Julian sit down with Charlie Moon, a professional Padel player and four-time cancer survivor, to hear his incredible journey. Charlie opens up about his battles with cancer, the challenges he faced, and how he found strength in the Padel community, whose overwhelming support left him speechless. Through resilience and an unbreakable mindset, Charlie shares his perspective on life, what truly matters, and how Padel became more than just a sport—i...
Feb 11, 2025•40 min
In this exclusive interview, Cesc & Julian sit down with Jake D'Amelio, the visionary behind Novac Equities and a driving force in Padel's rapid growth. As the sponsor of this weekend’s Novac WPR Road to Miami Circuit #2, Jake is on a mission to elevate the sport by securing better prize money for players and expanding opportunities in the Padel world. 🔹 Jake’s passion for Padel and why he’s all in on the sport 🔹 Why professional Padel players deserve higher payouts 🔹 His ambitious plans ...
Feb 07, 2025•20 min
In this exciting episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Simon from Tap to Score, a game-changing solution for Racket Clubs that takes scorekeeping to the next level! 🎾🔥 Tap to Score allows players and tournament organizers to easily track scores using a dedicated watch or an app on their Apple or Android smartwatches—seamlessly connected to a scoreboard. Cesc and Julian test the product live during the interview and love how intuitive and effortless it makes keeping score on the court. But tha...
Jan 31, 2025•11 min
In this episode of the Padel Smash Academy Podcast, Cesc and Julian sit down with a powerhouse father-son duo—Rudi Kalil, President of Motorola North America and owner of Padel Clube Chicago, alongside his son, Alejo Kalil, a rising young Padel player and multi-sport athlete. The conversation covers Motorola’s growing role in Padel, including its sponsorship of the Reserve Cup Series 2025, and why investing in the sport is a strategic move. Rudi shares his passion for growing Padel in the U.S. a...
Jan 30, 2025•26 min
