Padel news: Racquet 360 secures $9million funding round to accelerate US padel expansion
The United States’ premier integrated platform for the modern racket sports industry has announced the successful completion and deployment of a $9million funding round.
Finalised in Q4 2025, the funding round attracted a strategic mix of sports focused private equity funds, angel investors and family offices, including Sunrise Padel Capital (Miami, FL), Profluence Capital (St. Petersburg, FL) and Taktika Equity (San Diego, CA).
Unlike traditional funding announcements, Racquet 360’s raise was strategically timed to accelerate momentum for milestones already in motion.
R3 Bullpadel Cup Returns to Stratford as Elite Roster Strengthens for 2026
The R3 Bullpadel Cup returns to Stratford Padel Club this weekend as the opening event of the 2026 R3 Bullpadel Cup Leaderboard, bringing together one of the strongest LTA Grade 1 fields of the season.
Padel news: UK padel participation more than doubled in 2025 as sport breaks into the mainstream
New UK data from Playtomic, the world’s largest racket-sports booking and community platform, reveals that participation in the sport more than doubled in 2025, underlining padel’s emergence as one of the UK’s fastest-scaling sports.
According to Playtomic’s UK platform data, the number of players booking courts rose from 76,695 in January 2025 to 172,564 by December, representing growth of approximately 125% across the calendar year.
VVV Sports launches first publicly listed platform focused on emerging sports
Padel and pickleball are among the fastest-growing sports globally, attracting millions of new participants and accelerating commercial interest.
Yet despite that growth, much of the industry remains fragmented, with athletes, events, venues, media and commercial partners developing in parallel rather than as part of a coordinated ecosystem.
Led by entrepreneur Jonathan Rowland, the founder of UK challenger bank Redwood Bank, VVV Sports today debuts as a publicly listed sports, media and entertainment platform designed to address that gap.
Padel news: Pure Padel, Property+Padel host sellout networking event at flagship Manchester club
Property+Padel – the world’s leading corporate networking-meets-padel community – held its first event of 2026 for over 120 real estate and corporate professionals at the flagship Manchester venue of rapidly growing UK operator Pure Padel.
In what was the community’s sixth outing since the launch 18 months ago, the event marked Property+Padel’s first trip to the north of England, with the country’s most vibrant padel city, Manchester, playing host.
Padel news: R3 Sport signs British No.3 Tia Norton, strengthening commitment to women’s padel
R3 Sport has signed British No.3 Tia Norton, marking the next step in the professional career of one of the UK’s leading female padel players and reinforcing R3’s commitment to supporting women’s padel at the highest level.
Norton, who has been competing professionally since 2021, joins R3 as she continues her push on the international circuit, with the long-term ambition of breaking into the world’s top 100.
The partnership will see R3 provide enhanced support across Norton’s professional journey, including athlete management, tournament and travel support, commercial guidance, and increased media and content opportunities.
Padel news: Coki Nieto, world top seven padel player, joins Decathlon as new ambassador
DECATHLON, a global leading multi-specialist sports brand, is pleased to welcome Jorge (Coki) Nieto - the Spanish player better known on the circuit by his nickname - currently ranked number seven in the world, as a new KUIKMA ambassador for the next three years.
This strategic partnership marks a turning point in the brand’s ambition to compete at the elite level of professional padel while staying true to its ambition: making high performance accessible to everyone.
Padel news: Premium indoor club announced in Coulsdon as Pure Padel expands into London region
One of the UK’s fastest-growing padel club operators, Pure Padel, is thrilled to announce plans for a brand-new premium indoor padel club in Coulsdon, South London, located within the London Borough of Croydon.
The company has just submitted a planning application, with a decision expected in mid-February, marking Pure Padel’s first entry into the London region.
Padel news: Agustin Tapia, Arturo Coello, Delfina Brea Senesi and Gemma Triay Pons top FIP rankings
After a year of shifting partnerships, thrilling finales, and never-ending entertainment, the 2025 padel season has officially come to a close.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire takes a look at how the International Padel Federation world rankings played out.
Padel news: Six reasons why getting into padel should be on your 2026 New Year’s resolutions
Another year is almost over and if you still haven’t tried padel, then you must have been living under a rock.
And if for some inexplicable reason padel has yet to make it onto your New Year’s resolutions, here is Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire with six reasons to get into padel in 2026.
Padel opinion: How padel took over the sporting world in 2025
Women’s Euros. The Ryder Cup. The Club World Cup. 2025 was a huge year for sport, but the one that stole the most headlines was padel.
More courts were built than ever before, the push for female padel players accelerated and professional competitions enjoyed well-deserved commercial success.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s writer Vanely Barumire looks at the biggest winners from the 2025 Padel season.
Padel news: Hexagon Cup, 54 and International Padel Federation announce Hexagon World Series
Hexagon Cup, the team-based padel tournament established in 2024 that revolutionised the sport’s international landscape, has today announced an historic strategic alliance with 54, the global sport and entertainment agency behind the creation of LIV Golf, and the game’s global governing body, International Padel Federation (FIP).
Under this agreement, 54 will invest and partner with Hexagon Cup to expand and elevate the initial project into its next phase: a new global team circuit, officially named the Hexagon World Series.
Padel news: 2025 Premier Padel tour to conclude with action-packed Barcelona Finals
All roads lead to Barcelona for the final showdown of the 2025 Premier Padel tour, with the world’s best players facing off for the title between December 11 and 14.
Inside the iconic Palau Sant Jordi, the top eight men’s and women’s pairs from the tour will come together to see who takes the number one spot.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire takes you through what to expect.
Padel news: Three reasons why padel is the perfect sport for busy adults looking to decompress
Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world and the best way to catch up with friends, get in your recommended exercise, and de-stress from the mundane routine of life.
After all, many of us have a schedule that requires you to squint in order to try and find some freedom – to the point where making time for things feels like a second job.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire explains why padel is the perfect pastime for busy adults.
Padel news: Aimee Gibson moves to career-high world number 81 after impressive FIP title hat-trick
The CUPRA FIP Tour returned to the main stage in Bahrain with the FIP Bronze BBK Manama II, where British number one Aimee Gibson (81) secured her third-consecutive win with Spanish partner Alba Pérez (74), ultimately inching the rising star upwards in padel world rankings.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Shameeka Voyiya takes a look at the Briton’s journey.
Padel news: From Marbella and Sotogrande to Dubai, here are the world’s most stunning padel courts
There are over 70,000 padel courts in the world today – some are basic, some are luxurious, and some are simply breathtaking.
Despite padel only becoming popular a few short years ago, investment into courts has skyrocketed over the course of 2025.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire lists the four most aesthetically pleasing padel courts in the world.
Padel news: The past, present and future of the sport in the UK as grassroots enthusiasm grows
After a rapid rise in popularity across the United Kingdom, padel has become the favourite sporting pastime for many Britons.
Notably, over £6 million has been invested by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to promote the sport.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire explores the history of padel in the UK and considers its future.
Chief padel addict Andi Neugarten-Maio talks 6LoveSports and female padel, says, ‘It’s a way of connecting’
Gender disparity has always been an issue in professional sports. Tennis, football, and athletics have all faced issues with gender equality.
Padel, on the other hand, is embracing and calling for women’s involvement in the sport. Investment in female padel is growing from grassroots to professional.
Sports News Blitz’s Vanely Barumire sat down with one of the biggest names helping bring female padel to the forefront - Andi Neugarten-Maio.
“Visibility and recognition” – the growing investment in women’s padel
The WTA Finals are underway, marking the end of the 2024/25 tennis season.
This year’s circuit has produced plenty of thrilling matches and stories, from young prodigy Victoria Mboko’s meteoric rise, to Coco Gauff’s domination on hard courts, and Aryna Sabalenka’s consistent, impressive form - writes Sports News Blitz’s Vanely Barumire.
The Riyadh Open also marks the second year of a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation to host the WTA Finals in the Middle East.
Heineken become the global drinks partner for Premier Padel from 2026
The rise of professional padel has been unmatched. In 2023, professional padel was worth €2 billion, and that number is estimated to rise by the end of 2025.
The sport’s top players are becoming icons in their own right, and major brands are noticing.
The Spanish padel equipment NOX received a recent €1.9 million investment from Oaskley Capital.
Millions are being poured into the fastest growing sport, and Heineken is the latest to toss their hat into the glassed ring.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Vanely Barumire explores the deal.