(WSVN) – Think about if all of the racket sports activities had a child — that’s precisely why the game of padel is reaching new heights.What began as a sport for washed-up tennis gamers to proceed their love for fuzzy inexperienced balls and charging nets has turn into one of many fastest-growing sports activities on this planet.With the assistance of businessman Wayne Boich, the game has massive plans in South Florida.“The great thing about bringing this event right here is that there’s guys like us that lots of people within the padel neighborhood now know within the U.S.,” he mentioned, “however there’s a distinction between that and the very best on this planet. You’ve got quite a lot of pleasure round to see how nice these guys really are. I’m very completely satisfied to have the ability to put this on for the gamers, getting them publicity within the U.S., in a metropolis like Miami. It’s gonna be nice for the game, nice for the gamers.”This previous week, hundreds of padel followers got here out to see the very best padel gamers compete within the inaugural Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open.“This one is, by nature, a social sport, so it’s at all times 4 guys enjoying or 4 women,” one man mentioned. “You may combine and match ranges and modify, seeing the tremendous excessive, top-level gamers is absolutely one thing spectacular.”“It’s a dream come true for me, for all of the gamers, for everybody who loves padel and, hopefully, we will likely be right here once more subsequent yr,” one participant mentioned. The game’s recognition has even garnered the curiosity of South Florida’s greatest athletes and entertainers, who’ve turn into in a single day padel followers.“It’s the primary however it’s already the largest,” mentioned rapper Rick Ross. “The largest boss is right here. It simply feels good to be right here. It’s quite a lot of legends and future legends within the metropolis, man. Right here we go, we making historical past.”7Sports’ Donovan Campbell even acquired an opportunity to play towards Miami Warmth All-Star Jimmy Butler.“That is for everyone,” Butler mentioned. “It’s an enormous, aggressive sport. Even while you’re as athletic as I feel I’m, you may be beat by anyone.”Which is how his match towards Campbell went.“I allow you to rating,” Butler mentioned. “I gotta hold you my pal so that you say good issues about me within the media.”Match organizers have additionally labored with native businessmen locally to lift over $1 million.“It’s all about giving again to the neighborhood,” Butler mentioned. “We’ll be giving lots of of hundreds of {dollars} to native charities which is essential to us, as a result of that is our metropolis, this can be a place that we love.”
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