Juan Martin del Potro appeared on the court again, but this time it wasn't a tennis court but a padel court.
Juan Martin del Potro, Tommy Haas, and Daddy Yankee – a trio of famous names, each shining in their respective fields. The transition from the tennis court to the padel court was a unique spectacle as these titans celebrated the launch of the Pro Padel League (PPL) season.
In a show of solidarity for the budding league, the three attended an exhibition match in Florida, marking the official start of the PPL season, which kicked off on a recent Saturday. Seven teams will partake in a competition spread across four weekends, all held at the esteemed Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills, Florida.
Del Potro has taken on a new role in the Miami-based PPL team. Transitioning from the tennis court, del Potro has been appointed as a strategic adviser to the ownership group, aiming to utilize his experience in the sport as an ambassador.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, del Potro expressed his aspirations for a US Open farewell, provided his physical condition allows it. He also shared his affection for padel and acknowledged the need to adjust his playstyle to suit the new sport.
"I like to play. My big mistake is that I want to play padel (like) a tennis player — completely the same way. (But) when you hit hard, you will lose the point. It’s completely different, tennis and padel. Now I’m getting used to how to play. I need to be coached to improve."
Along with pickleball, padel is one of the sports that is gaining traction and may soon see more and more tennis players try it. In the past, Roger Federer was seen playing padel, and Andy Murray predicted a bright future for the sport.
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