New Sheriffs in Town
El Remate #18 | What's hot in 🇺🇸 & 🌎 padel | Feb. 10-17, 2026
Bienvenidos a El Remate! I’m Aris, a padel-obsessed Missourian who spent the last two years living in Argentina and Spain to deeply understand the sport’s strategy, culture, and business. I’ve played and competed across 3 continents and 12 countries, and recently started documenting my journey on Instagram.
Each week, I curate what matters in padel: new US club openings, technique tips, my takes on international headlines and pro drama, plus insider knowledge from the global circuit. Subscribe for weekly updates! 📧
🔍 Topics we’ll cover this weekPadel’s U.S. expansion shines more light on our landlocked cities. Greater Cincy is about to get its first dedicated padel facility, while the DFW metroplex keeps stacking serious square footage.
We also tell you about a cheeky shot that makes your opponents spiral, plus a major upset that happened within the women’s pro padel circuit. 🫨 And seems like these new rules aren’t being held up…?
Also in this issue:
— Premier Padel tries to close the pro-am gap
— Atlanta padel entrepreneurs share their intel
— Players debate the proper volley
— Glow-in-the-dark padel
…and plenty more. Seguimos!
🇺🇸 Club OpeningsThe Non-Coastal Boom Continues
🌳 Outdoor-only? Padel-only? In the Midwest? Respect.
Club Padel Newtown is set to open in Spring 2026 in Newtown, Ohio (just 13 miles outside downtown Cincinnati), becoming the metro area’s first dedicated outdoor padel facility (unlike most clubs in the region, which are mainly indoor and padel-pickleball hybrid). The club will feature four panoramic-glass outdoor courts with premium turf and LED lighting, plus a full clubhouse with locker rooms, lounge space, and a pro shop. The club plans to have leagues, clinics, lessons, junior programs, tournaments, and open play, with bookings handled through a mobile app.
🤠 More for the Metroplex
Studio Arenna just locked in an 18,000 sq ft build-to-suit indoor padel facility in North Richland Hills, TX (10 miles from downtown Ft. Worth). This will be the brand’s flagship North Texas location, designed as a premium “wellness + social hub” that blends padel, lifestyle amenities, and community. Construction is expected to kick off alongside the broader mixed-use development timeline.
📈 Up Your Game The Rulo: When, Why & How to Use It
Sorry, what is this shot? It’s a ball that hits the ground and then rolls into the cage, producing a nasty, irregular rebound. Sometimes it kicks up high. Sometimes it dies. Sometimes it shoots sideways. It just never rebounds “normally,” so defenders naturally hate it. This 9.5-min video breaks the shot down really well.
My eight takeaways:
It’s NOT a kill-shot. Rather, think of it as a problem-creation shot. The idea is to force an uncomfortable glass/fence recovery, get a weak reply, then finish the next ball. Here, spin > speed.
Play it anywhere from the second post to third post.
Keep your elbow high and racket face closed. If your elbow drops low, you’ll generate a flatter smash.
Keep a loose wrist & loose grip. Let the racket “rest on your thumb” to force looseness and prevent you from muscling the shot.
Contact slightly behind the head to brush up the back of the ball.
The racket should travel up and away, not wrap around your body.
Use the continental grip. If you’re too far into forehand grip, you won’t be able to close the racket face properly or generate that wrist roll.
As a reference point, show your back to the player down the line to ensure you’re turned sideways enough to generate the right shoulder / elbow shape.
🌍 International Happenings The Pro-Am Divide Is Shrinking
So last week, Premier Padel, the international padel circuit organized by the International Padel Federation (FIP), launched the Premier Padel Academy, a global platform that brings pro-level coaching, camps, and immersive experiences to amateur players worldwide.
As part of this process, the Academy will leverage official FIP methodology to deliver clinics, camps, and immersive programs for juniors and adults, all coordinated around Premier Padel tournaments. Programs will be led by FIP-certified coaches, and former pros. Beyond training, attendees will gain networking opportunities, panel discussions, and immersive experiences.
🏆 Pro Padel RoundupRiyadh Recap: A Torch Gets Passed, A Dynasty Lasts (🇸🇦)
On the men’s side, Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia reminded everyone why they’re still the team to beat. The final saw the duo dismantle Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour, marking their 32nd Premier Padel title together. Tapia was candid afterward: “We’ll be battling Chingotto and Galan all year long - today, we were the better team.” Catch the highlights here.
Meanwhile, the women’s draw delivered a massive surprise. Andrea Ustero, just 18 and already tipped as the next Spanish superstar, paired with Ari Sanchez in a remarkable debut. After dropping the first set 3-6 to world No. 1s Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, Ustero and Sanchez flipped the script, rattling off 6-1 and 6-4 to take their first title together. Despite the duo’s 67-to-44 winners tally, Ustero was humble but confident: “We didn’t expect to beat the world No. 1s, but we worked incredibly hard.” Highlights are here.
Finally, on a more random note:
It seems the new padel rules are not upheld in pro tournaments yet? 😬
Big-time soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, and David Silva were in the stands
🎯 Quick HitsTwo Atlanta padel entrepreneurs share their insights on the sport’s growth in their city and nationwide
I wrote a guest article for my buddy Austin at Padel Nation regarding what Americans may find shocking when playing padel overseas. Check it out here!
Behind every pro player is a community of coaches, physios, family, agents… you name it. Red Bull does an intriguing deep dive here
Players debate: is slicing every volley really necessary?
An Aussie narrowly escaped death when a 3-meter glass wall exploded above him while playing in Bali. 😦 Thank heavens he’s alright
This 47-year-old opens up on how he quit his six-figure job to teach padel
UK jewelry brand PRYA launches the “Padel Collection”
🤩 Cool Court of the Week📍 Weer, 🇦🇹
More info here (+ check out this glow-in-the-dark party they recently had)!
Missed a recent issue? Todo tranca che ;) we got you covered:
One Small Step for US Padel, One Giant Leap for Accessibility
📌 Hot take editorials:
Thanks for reading! My promise: I’ll keep the newsletters coming, you share with a friend if you’re enjoying. Está bien? Forward to a friend.
For more on-the-ground 🌎 padel content from a 🇺🇸 POV, follow @padelyanqui on Instagram! 🤝 And if you have any feedback or news to share, just respond to this email :)
See you next week & keep smashing those volleys 🎾