In an interview with The Padel Weekly, Martin Sweeney, President of the United States Padel Association (USPA), and Scott Colebourne, Executive Director of the USPA, shared insights into the rapid growth of padel in the U.S., the challenges they face, and their plans for the sport’s future.

The Current State of Padel in the U.S.

Sweeney highlighted the significant progress that the volunteer board has made over the past three years, including hosting the FIP Senior World Championships in 2022, introducing the partnership with World Padel Rating, and rebuilding the USPA’s digital infrastructure completely.

Sweeney pointed to the USPA’s volunteer-driven structure, with a board and several committees managing critical aspects like governance, competition, junior development, and club memberships, as a catalyst for the improvement. The recent surge in padel’s popularity has brought significant attention and unique challenges. “There is a lot of money being thrown at the sport at the moment, especially in the last 12 months, with private equity getting involved,” said Sweeney. “As the national governing body for Padel in the USA, we want to do everything we can to support this growth.”

Despite the commercial growth, the USPA remains committed to supporting clubs nationwide by offering resources, national rankings, and competition opportunities rather than imposing strict rules. “We want to support clubs and help their growth through resources,” Colebourne emphasized.

Expansion and Challenges in the U.S. Market

With over 35 padel clubs opened in the U.S. so far this year, padel’s growth is undeniable. Sweeney and Colebourne both acknowledged the differences between padel and other fast-growing racquet sports, such as pickleball, noting the infrastructure required for padel courts as a limiting factor. Despite this, the overall trajectory remains promising.

“We see a lot of clubs adding pickleball and padel together, and we think that’s a great model for the future,” Colebourne added. This dual-sport approach is one of the ways the USPA sees padel growing in tandem with other racquet sports, particularly as clubs diversify to meet player demand.

Looking Toward the Future: US Open and Beyond

As the USPA gears up for the 2025 US Open Padel Championships, Sweeney expressed optimism about future international collaborations. They have also confirmed that the USPA plans to host six to eight FIP (International Padel Federation) events in 2025, helping opportunities for U.S.-based players to gain international ranking points.

“We hope to have the US Open be a part of the FIP circuit in 2025, and we look forward to helping bring Premier Padel tournaments to the U.S. as the sport continues to grow,” Sweeney said.

The USPA: Fostering Camaraderie in American Padel

With padel rapidly expanding across the U.S., the USPA’s leadership is focused on fostering a sustainable, community-driven ecosystem for the sport. The support for clubs, players, and junior padel are just a few examples of how the USPA aims to solidify padel’s place in the American sports landscape.

For more updates and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to The Padel Weekly and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.