Trouble in Paradise
El Remate #24 | What's hot in 🇺🇸 & 🌎 padel | Mar. 24-31, 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! 📧
Wow… what. a. week.
Just got home after spending seven days religiously following the Premier Padel Miami P1 from start to finish. I learned a ton, met some really cool people, and most importantly, my obsession with the game got even stronger (which I, quite literally, did not think was possible).
The layout was well-designed, the courts were pristine (shoutout to my guy Jaime - the way he and his team at PadelGalis orchestrate the rapid build-up & takedown of six courts in five days is mesmerizing), and the atmosphere was electric.
I was initially planning to write a quick blurb here with my observations and takeaways from the tournament, but over the course of the week, that list kept growing to the point where not writing a full piece would feel like a disservice.
So… stay tuned. Full breakdown coming soon. Anyway, let’s get to it!
🔍 Topics we’ll cover this weekMiami still wears the crown as America’s padel capital, but the race for No. 2 is heating up fast.
Meanwhile, the underdogs pull through on both sides to prove the virtue of patience. And the Pro Padel League just locked in another $15M, while Carlos Alcaraz thinks he could take down the world No.1s.
Also in this issue:
— The “boring” shot that secretly wins points at every level
— Pro partner prank
— Breakthroughs for intermediate players
— American company enters Premier Padel
…and plenty more. Seguimos!
🇺🇸 Club OpeningsThe Case for America’s “Second [Padel] City” Gets Stronger
I think it’s fair to say that Miami is undeniably is the “padel capital” of the US. But what about the runner-up? Back in January, my guy Austin wrote a deep-dive on this exact topic. I may be biased given my Texas background (hook ‘em 🤘), but I strongly think greater Houston comes in at #2 given the climate, relatively lower cost of living, thriving Latino community, and vast cultural diversity in general. This week, seems like my case just got stronger.
Anyway, Racket Social Club’s newest flagship just opened in suburban Katy, TX, bringing an 18,000-square-foot, purpose-built padel facility with five indoor courts and the tallest ceilings in the area at 30 feet. The club is backed by a strategic Adidas padel partnership and is positioned as a premium social-sport destination.
📈 Up Your Game 
The Most Boring Shot Is the One Killing You
You’re playing a solid point. Yet midway, you feel like you just need to, idk, do something. Add pace, hit a winner, or prove some sort of point.
Instead, you dump a volley into the net, or float one that gets punished.
Meanwhile, the pros are doing the exact opposite. In this 17min video analyzing Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger, the biggest takeaway was restraint.
Many times, the chiquita ended up doing much of the damage. These soft, low balls to the feet:
force awkward contact
pull opponents out of position
create space for the next shot
allow you to quietly take the net
In reality, most players treat tough balls like emergencies. Pros, however, treat tough balls like setups by asking, “how do I neutralize this… and make the next ball easier?”
So when they’re stretched, they go slower, lower, and safer… which ironically creates pressure.
That all said, here’s a great, easy pattern to get in the habit of:
Chiquita to the feet → force a weak reply
Move forward immediately (don’t admire your shot)
Close space + cut angles
Win the point with positioning (not power)
In reality, you’re not losing points by not being aggressive enough. Rather, you’re choosing the wrong moments to be aggressive… as a good mental note, those “right moments” usually come after 2-3 smart, “boring” decisions.
🌍 International Happenings Money Talks (🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽)
So the Pro Padel League just raised $15M in fresh funding, bringing its 12-month haul to $25M as investors double down on padel becoming a legit North American sports asset class.
The round was led by Charlotte Hornets owner / private equity magnate Rick Schnall (who, naturally, got hooked while playing), alongside Left Lane Capital and other investors. The league now boasts 10 franchises across the US, Canada, and Mexico, with some already reportedly valued north of $10M… an insane jump from the ~$200K buy-in back in ‘23.
This new capital is being funneled into league infrastructure, player development, and building out a full-blown media product, as PPL looks to become something far more mainstream. They’re also doubling down on PPL 2, their developmental circuit, while continuing to stack commercial partnerships with brands like Frederique Constant and Franklin Sports.
One underrated nugget: PPL is already experimenting with media rights deals globally (mix of rights fees + rev share) and even staged exhibition matches at the Miami Open (imo, a smart move to hijack attention from an already padel-curious audience).
🏆 Pro Padel RoundupUnderdogs Ate (🇺🇸)
Remember how last week, we wondered whether anyone would ever beat the No. 1s? Well, well, well, how the tables have turned. 😈 With nearly five hours of total play time and two third-set battles, the No. 2 seeds stole the spotlight (again).
On the women’s side, Paula Josemaría and Bea González finally broke through, but not without a full-on rollercoaster which lasted just under three hours. After taking the first set, dropping the second, and falling behind 5-3 in the decider against defending champs Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay, it looked like another near-miss. Instead, they rattled off four straight games to steal the match and secure their first title together. Highlights here.
On the men’s side, Fede Chingotto and Ale Galán edged out Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia in a razor-thin 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 battle that came down to the finest of margins. The stats were basically identical across the board, so this one might as well have been a coin toss. But when it mattered most, “Chingalán” found another gear, particularly in that third set where Chingotto seemed to be absolutely everywhere. Fans noticed too, with many calling out just how dominant he was throughout key stretches. The win marks back-to-back Miami titles for the duo and their second trophy of the season. Highlights here.
Also in the pro-sphere:
During the Miami P1, Ale Galán pulled a prank on partner Chingotto, telling him Adidas had arranged a surprise hit with Lionel Messi. Oof 😂
Tennis bigshot Carlos Alcaraz (who sat two rows in front of me during the P1 men’s semifinals lol) casually thinks he and Jannik Sinner would beat Tapia and Coello. Sinner thinks Carlos would have to “run for both of them” while he contributes.
Arturo Coello, who recently decided to reside full-time in Miami, gave a full behind-the-scenes look at life in the 305: training, recovery, outdoor living, and even downtime with his girlfriend.
England-based fruit breeder BerryWorld just signed women’s world No.1 Delfi Brea as its 2026 ambassador.
🎯 Quick Hits According to intermediate players, turns out the biggest breakthrough isn’t a new “magic” shot. Rather, it’s learning when not to play fast, and instead winning through positioning, footwork, and smarter rhythm control (especially chiquita vs. lob decision-making).
Around the globe:
Boston-based WHOOP just locked in a three-year global partnership with Premier Padel to become the tour’s official health and performance wearable partner. (🇺🇸)
Argentine soccer-legend-turned-padel-evangelist Carlos Tevez officially launched Apache 32 Pádel in Buenos Aires as he doubles down on his country’s fastest-growing racket sport trend. (🇦🇷)
The National Padel League is doubling down on momentum from a breakout 2025 season, launching a 2026 campaign with a new Spring/Fall dual-season format, expanded women’s divisions, and a strengthened national “City to Nationals” pipeline. Backed by continued endorsement from the United States Padel Association, the league is scaling into six major U.S. regions after already drawing 1,900+ players across 35+ cities last year. (🇺🇸)
A charity padel tournament in Miami hosted by Young Musicians Unite just raised over $23K to help bring instruments and teaching artists into >75 local schools. (🇺🇸)
🤩 Cool Club of the Week📍 Nairobi, 🇰🇪
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.
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See you next week & keep smashing those volleys 🎾