Kaka, Ronaldo, Clarence Seedorf lead star-studded daily Padel tournament at World Cup
>
Leaving their commentary microphones behind and swapping luxurious television studios for paddle tennis courts, some of the most iconic footballers in history have gone head-to-head in a daily tournament in Qatar during the World Cup.
Padel is the fastest growing racket sport in the world and is becoming increasingly popular among retired soccer players.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has stepped up to meet that demand by hosting a daily tournament to get the competitive juices flowing, and has signed a host of iconic former World Cup champions. and the Champions League.
Brazilian superstars Kaká and Ronaldo, 2002 World Cup winners, headline a star-studded lineup that also includes former Barcelona stars Patrick Kluivert, Ronald de Boer and Andrés Iniesta, as well as former England international Joe Cole. .
Former PSG defender Maxwell Olivier Dacourt, former Tottenham star Robbie Keane Carles Puyol, Sportsmail columnist Graeme Souness, Gabriel Batistuta and Italy icon Alessandro Del Piero are also taking part in the tournament.
Paddle tennis is a hybrid sport of tennis and squash and is enjoyed by more than 25 million people around the world, with David Beckham another notable devotee.
And with time to kill in Qatar for these experts and FIFA ambassadors now that the tournament is in the knockout stages, with fewer matches per day, the mission to be number 1 on the padel court has set them back years in the scorching heat to get one over some longtime rivals.
A who’s who of some of soccer’s greatest players including Clarence Seedorf (far left), Patrick Kluivert (second left), Ronaldo (second from right) and Kaká (far right) take to the padel court.
Former Ajax, Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder Ronald De Boer sweats on the pitch
Andrés Iniesta (right) is among a star-studded group competing in a daily tournament hosted by PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left, with world number 2 tennis star Ons Jabeur)
Al-Khelaifi has been a driving force not only behind this megastar tournament but also in Padel’s growth in his role as President of Premier Padel.
Premier Padel is the only official Padel world tour and it was launched earlier this year, with a competition governed and regulated by the International Padel Federation (FIP).
The PSG boss’s multi-sport connections also saw him recruit world number 2 tennis star Ons Jabeur, former British tennis player James Ward and former Brazilian tennis icon Gustavo Kuerten for the daily tournament, raising the level of competition for Ronaldo. and company.
Kluivert (main), partnering Seedorf, looks to play a return from the glass in a doubles tie
Italian great Alessandro del Piero (second left) smiles after a doubles match with Kluivert (far left), Brazilian tennis icon Gustavo Kuerten (second from right) and Seedorf (far right)
Al-Khelaifi (left) poses with Kluivert (second left), Ronaldo (centre) and Gabriel Batistuta (second from right) with the daily tournament becoming a fixture for some iconic footballers.
It was clear which doubles pairings were emerging for this tournament, with Al-Khelaifi wisely choosing to team with Jabeur, the only active racket sports player in the competition.
Kaká and Ronaldo looked to bring that Brazilian flair to their doubles match when they faced Seedorf and Kluivert.
If they weren’t worried about preparing for the round of 16 of the competition, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two well-known padel fans, would undoubtedly have signed up for the heavyweight clashes.
The smaller rackets are used for tennis, and players can shoot shots from the glass walls.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is also so enamored that he teamed up with Wilson to promote a padel racket with his signature on it, and has installed a padel court at Liverpool’s training ground.
the paddle is it is played on a 10 meter by 20 meter court surrounded by glass walls and metal fences and is usually played in doubles rather than singles, as is the case in this highly successful tournament.
The enclosed space and the ability to play shots off the glass means the ball is rarely out of play, creating longer rallies, which is the squash-like element of the sport.
The serve is under the arm and the point system is the same as in tennis.
The balls used are similar to tennis balls, but the rackets are solid and have no strings.
Padel is bidding to be recognized as an Olympic sport and included in the Olympic Games.
At the moment, Premier Padel offers international and national competitions, including four top-tier Major tournaments, similar to the Grand Slams in tennis.
Those that take place in Doha, Qatar, Rome, Italy, Paris, France and Monterrey, Mexico.
At least 10 tournaments, including all 4 Majors, are scheduled for 2022 and 2023, increasing to more than 25 annual tournaments by 2024.
It remains to be seen if any of Al-Khelaifi’s World Cup entries can go on to become a major statesman in Padel.
But as some of the greatest footballers of their generation, who have won the highest honors in the game, don’t expect them to go lightly in these morning matches.
Premier Padel can be seen in more than 180 countries around the world, with stations such as beIN SPORTS, ESPN and Sky Sports.
Former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, left, and retired England striker Peter Crouch, right, also enjoy the sport, which is a hybrid of tennis and squash.