The New York Atlantics were recently announced as an eighth franchise for the upcoming second season of North America’s exciting new Pro Padel League (PPL), and the team almost immediately unveiled a star signing.
Namely, Juan Martín Díaz has taken the role of Strategic Advisor for the new team. A legend of the sport, having spent 14 years as the world’s number-one-ranked padel player, Diaz is recognized for winning 13 championships and 23 tournaments in a row.
Díaz’s signing represents the first time a major international padel star has joined a PPL ownership group. The move highlights the increasing interest from international superstars competing in global padel circuits to join the fast-growing North American league.
“New York is an incredible city and a leader of padel in the United States. I am proud to be joining this organization and look forward to playing a key role in leading this team to a successful future,” said Díaz, known for his fierce offensive style of play.
As an advisor to the New York Atlantics, Díaz will oversee player recruitment and training for the 2024 season. He will also represent the Atlantics in media and community events and identify strategic partnership opportunities for the club.
“We are thrilled to welcome Juan Martín to the NYA organization,” said an NYA team spokesperson. “He is a world champion padel player, and his resume speaks for itself. This is not only an historic moment for the Atlantics but also the sport of padel in North America.”
As a veteran padel athlete, Díaz contributed to the massive growth of the sport internationally and saw its expansion into 90 countries worldwide, with 126 tournaments in 2022 alone. Díaz is one of the most recognized names in the professional padel community, and his involvement with NYA will continue to build momentum behind the sport in North America, with millions of new fans worldwide.
A version of this article was originally written by Mike Dale for The Padel Paper on August 14, 2023. It has been modified and updated.
