While the U.S. was surprisingly absent from both the A1 and Premier Padel 2024 tournament schedules, padel fans who were lucky enough to attend this weekend’s Reserve Cup Presented by Richard Mille in Miami got to see some of the world’s top talents battle it out on American soil in a spectacular, first-of-its-kind event.
In addition to getting to see 14 of the world’s top-20-ranked padel pros compete for the largest purse in the sport’s history, fans also got to see two more world-class athletes take the court and serve as team captains, namely NBA superstar Jimmy Butler and New York Yankees Legend and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (whose participation even caught the attention of CNBC).
The sold-out event, which was hosted by Reserve Founder and CEO Wayne Boich in collaboration with Miami Heat superstar, Jimmy Butler, promised spectators the chance to experience “the pinnacle of padel” and take in a “fusion of top-tier entertainment, exceptional dining, curated shopping, and lavish indulgences.”
Ahead of the event, Boich said, “I am humbled by the chance to bring what I believe to be the pinnacle of padel to the United States, showcasing the epitome of this exciting sport alongside the world’s top players and premier entertainment. Having spent the last 18 months laying the groundwork at Reserve leading up to this pivotal event, launching Reserve Cup Presented by Richard Mille in Miami is a testament to the vision we’ve worked diligently to bring to life.”
Butler, an avid padel enthusiast, added, “Miami is in for something special. I’m thrilled to be a part of this global Padel movement with Wayne, both as a partner and as a team captain of the Reserve Cup. I’ve seen padel come a long way over the last couple of years, and I’m very excited for the future of the sport. Looking forward to this tournament, which will be a lot of fun and great for the city of Miami.”
Ultimately, Team Miami captured the inaugural Reserve Cup after the world-#3-ranked Argentine duo of Martin Di Nenno and Franco Stupaczuk took down the world-#1-ranked Spanish duo of Juan Lebron and Ale Galan 6-2, 5-7, (14-12) in a dazzling tie-breaker finish in which both teams fought off multiple match-points against them.
Of course, this event won’t get anywhere near as much attention as that other U.S. sporting event that’s being held this weekend in Las Vegas, but given its panache, world-class competition, and celebrity backing, the Reserve Cup will no doubt help propel the world’s fastest growing sport even further into the U.S. mainstream.
