Bienvenidos a El Remate! I’m Aris, a padel-obsessed Missourian who spent two years living in Argentina and Spain to deeply understand the sport’s culture, strategy, 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 weekPorsche is taking the luxury car club concept courtside, with two members-only US padel destinations targeted to open in 2028.
Plus, Gemma Triay just made women’s padel history, while the Golden Boys locked up their fourth straight year-end No. 1 ranking. Now, 32 national teams are headed to Doha for the FIP World Cup.
Also in this issue:
— The first two shots that can win you the point
— Four courts going over an Olympic-sized swimming pool
— The UK just passed 3,000 courts already?
…and plenty more. Dale campeón!
🇺🇸 Court Openings & Club BuzzThe Porsche Padel Clubhouse Collab
Porsche Design Concours is taking the luxury car club concept courtside, with two members-only destinations featuring padel and targeting 2028 openings.
Meanwhile, a historic Palm Beach club gets approval for a court, Three Rackets opens in Colorado, and there’s plenty more club activity from Cincinnati to Montreal.
➡️ Catch the full Club Buzz breakdown
📈 Up Your Game The First Two Shots of Every Point
You hit a decent serve, charge the net, and promptly hit your first volley right back to your opponent. Then they lob you and take the net. Now, you’re scrambling to defend.
Sound familiar?
This week, Coach Gonzalo of Padel Drive teams up with former World No. 31 Hugo Cases to break down how to use your first two shots to take control of the rally.
The key is to make your serve and first volley work together. A good serve forces a difficult return, while a good first volley takes advantage of it. And if you’re serving from the left side, try targeting the glass to create a more predictable return and give yourself a better opportunity to attack.
After all, getting to the net is only half the job. What you do with that first volley can determine who controls the rest of the point.
➡️ Read the full breakdown + learn how to practice your first two shots
🏆 Pro Padel Roundup History Made as World Cup Kicks Off (🇰🇼🇶🇦)
Coming off the Kuwait Major, Coello / Tapia have officially locked up year-end No. 1 for the fourth straight season, while Gemma Triay became the most decorated female player in pro padel history with her 59th career title. But the women’s No. 1 race is still anyone’s game.
Next up, the FIP World Cup in Doha, where 32 national teams will be battling for the world titles. Australia, Indonesia, and Egypt booked the final qualifying spots, and Spain will have to navigate the tournament without Ale Galán. Will it be Argentina vs. Spain, round two?
🎯 Quick Hits Decathlon-owned brand Kuikma is giving aerospace waste a second life, partnering with materials company Fairmat to launch the world’s first padel racket incorporating recycled aerospace carbon fiber. (🇫🇷)
Well that was quick… the UK just surpassed 3,000 padel courts, with 3,053 courts spanning 890 clubs. Another 1,276 courts are currently in the development pipeline. (🇬🇧)
FIP Academy just launched a global directory connecting its certified coaches with players, clubs, and organizations worldwide. Profiles include coaches’ locations, languages spoken, and certification levels. (🌍)
Barcelona-based court manufacturer Greenset is undertaking an unusual installation for next week’s Dubai P1, building six courts at Hamdan Sports Complex, four of them directly over an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The conversion involves draining 6,250+ cubic meters of water and deploying ~49,000 square meters of temporary infrastructure. (🇦🇪)
Community debates:
Beginner and intermediate players weigh in on which shots took their game to the next level.
Is Playtomic’s rating system a competitive motivator or recipe for misery? A frustrated player asks how to escape the vicious cycle of questionable open-match teammates and declining ratings. Responses include questionable matchmaking ethics, tactical survival tips, and an argument for caring less about your number.
🤩 Cool Court of the Week📍 Lagos, 🇳🇬
More info here!
Missed a recent issue? Todo tranca che ;) we got you covered:
📌 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 @elremate.padel.usa on Instagram! And if you have any feedback, news to share, or are interested in becoming a preferred partner of El Remate, just respond to this email :)
See you next week & keep smashing those volleys 🎾
Ari, thanks again for all the work you put into this great newsletter! Always find very interesting! Kev