Professional padel players in Portugal emphasize the sport’s burgeoning social base as the crucial driver behind its overall growth and future success, acknowledging a unique partnership between grassroots participation and elite competition.
Miguel Deus, a prominent figure in Portuguese padel, stated that social padel is essential for the sport’s overall advancement. He noted it represents the vast majority of players globally and in Portugal, who support professionals through attendance and messages.
The CUPRA Open Padel on Tour circuit, for instance, is designed as a social event open to all participants, not primarily to identify future professional talent.
His brother, Nuno Deus, observes a steady improvement in the quality of padel played across the country, which benefits all levels of competition. This growth is partly attributed to the Portuguese Padel Federation’s recent inclusion of international tournaments.
These tournaments, supported by local clubs, have provided many Portuguese players with vital experience against foreign competitors.
Despite this progress, Portugal’s padel community faces the challenge of a relatively short history compared to nations like Spain or Argentina, where the sport has decades of established presence and a larger pool of players and coaches.
While the first padel courts appeared in Portugal over two decades ago, significant discussion and growth have only occurred in the last 10 to 15 years. Portuguese athletes have only begun competing internationally in the past decade.
Miguel Deus explained that while strong foundations are being built, the sport still needs more players and coaches, which will develop over time.
For younger players, Nuno Deus offers clear advice: prioritize enjoyment and learning. He stresses the importance of trusting coaches, focusing on skill development across tactical, technical, and physical aspects, and building friendships.
Nuno underscored that for young athletes, results are less critical than building a solid foundation and having fun, mirroring the very appeal that makes social padel so popular and exciting for many.