Celebrity Watch: These Stars We’ve Seen with a Racket in Hand

Long confined to insiders, padel has changed dimension: new clubs, more visible tournaments, content circulating at high speed… the scene is booming and naturally attracting well-known faces. Footballers on holiday, tennis stars in the off-season, drivers between two Grands Prix, or artists passing through an event: without focusing on celebrity gossip for its own sake, here is a clear overview of those we’ve already seen racket in hand (or very close to a court).

Overview: The Most Represented Categories

Focus France: the 4PADEL effect (YouTube) – the best-documented celebrity pool

If you want a truly verifiable basis, 4PADEL is a textbook example: the YouTube channel has set up a very clear “guests” format, with personalities who come to hit the ball and discuss padel without faking the image.

The series “On the court with…”: the guests already identified

Artists / TV / Comedy / Creators

• Tayc (artist) – guest of the format.
• Cartman (comedian/host) – guest of the format.
• Pierre Croce (creator) – guest of the format.
• Jason Brokerss (comedian) – guest of the format.
• Tom Gergaud (comedian) – guest of the format.
• Simon Castaldi (TV personality) – guest of the format.
• Richard Orlinski (artist) – guest of the format.
• Walid Acherchour (football media) – guest of the format.
• Charlotte Gabas (journalism) – guest of the format.
• Nico Colombien (content / social media) – guest of the format.

Athletes

• Thierry Omeyer (handball) – guest of the format.
• Robert Pirès (football) – guest of the format.
• Yoann Huget (rugby) – guest of the format.

Padel (sport level)

• Coki Nieto (pro player) – guest of the format.

Bonus “padel & social networks” (often in the same 4PADEL universe)

• Jules Marie & Clément Filho (“Le Chiquiteur”): a very recognized duo in recent padel content in France.

France: Cyril Hanouna (and the tournament / live scene)

It’s impossible to talk about “padel celebrities” in France without mentioning Cyril Hanouna. Beyond mentions, he is also found in match content / broadcasts around competitions (with, for example, P1000 posters broadcast online).

France: Zinédine Zidane, padel as a routine (discreet but consistent)

While many personalities discover padel occasionally, Zinédine Zidane is an exception. The former Ballon d’Or winner is regularly seen racket in hand, away from the cameras, in an established and lasting practice.

Reluctant to be in the spotlight, Zidane has been playing for several years, often in private circles or during visits to well-known clubs. For him, padel is neither a publicity stunt nor a passing curiosity: it’s a sport integrated into his daily life, just like tennis or recreational football.

His recurring presence, though rarely publicized, contributes to the normalization of padel among a wider audience, without ever overdoing it.

Belgium: well-known faces also on the courts

In Belgium too, padel attracts well-known figures from professional sports. Among them, Silvio Proto is one of the former footballers regularly cited as a keen player.

The former Belgian international goalkeeper has been seen several times on padel courts, particularly in private or event settings. Without excessive media exposure, he embodies this profile of an athlete who has transitioned to an accessible, competitive, and social sport.

These presences help reinforce the image of padel as well-established in the Belgian sports landscape, beyond a mere passing trend.

The 4PADEL Football Cup Case: When Former Ligue 1 Pros Switch to Padel Mode

Another “gold mine” to expand the list: the 4PADEL Football Cup, which brought together a high density of former professional footballers. The interest here is that padel is no longer just an isolated hobby: it’s a structured event, with teams, represented clubs, a competitive logic, and accompanying content.

Some Key Figures (selection)

• Steve Mandanda (with Gaël Danic)
• Rio Mavuba
• Robert Pirès
• Samir Nasri
• Kevin Gameiro
• Jérémy Ménez
• Éric Abidal
• Patrick Vieira
• Gaël Clichy
• David Trezeguet
• Maxime Gonalons, Clément Grenier
• Claude Makélélé (often cited in this type of “former pros” ecosystem)

And above all: beyond these names, the Football Cup listed a very high volume of pairs (several dozen players), making it one of the best “list” accelerators in France.

Global: When Stars Become Owners, Investors, or Ambassadors

Internationally, padel is reaching a new level: it’s no longer just about playing “for fun,” but also about owning a team, investing in a structure, or leading a project.

Hexagon Cup & Highly Publicized Owners

• Eva Longoria: associated with a team / owner project within the Hexagon Cup ecosystem.
• Sergio Agüero: the “team” version of padel with very visible branding (e.g., Krü Padel, highly publicized).

Investments / Padel Business

• Andy Murray: involved in padel-related investments (“sport & business” approach).
• Anthony Joshua: associated with “padel infrastructure” investments alongside Murray.

USA: the “premium / lifestyle” ecosystem that attracts stars

• Jimmy Butler: a very visible figure at US padel events (show / VIP / official content format).
• Dwyane Wade: presented as a player, particularly within the Reserve in Miami ecosystem.

Global: Multi-Sport Athletes Who Really Play (Tennis, F1…)

Tennis: The Most Natural Bridge

• Rafael Nadal: padel omnipresent around his ecosystem (academy, events, strong presence in the “racket sports” DNA).
• Matteo Berrettini: very identified appearances / statements around a major padel event in Miami.
• Novak Djokovic: has already been seen/tested on a court (widely shared content).

F1: padel as an “on the road” routine

In Formula 1, padel is often presented as a perfect format: short, intense, doubles, easy to fit into a trip.

• Carlos Sainz & Charles Leclerc: regularly cited as players.
• Lando Norris: often associated with padel sequences (widely shared short content).
• Oscar Piastri: himself mentions his practice on tour.
• Max Verstappen: frequently shown in padel content around GPs.
• Fernando Alonso: also cited among the sport’s fans.

Conclusion: A Living List, Growing Every Month

Padel attracts so many personalities because it has become an “everyday” sport: easy to organize, friendly, spectacular on video, and compatible with celebrity schedules. The list grows with the content… and certain ecosystems (like 4PADEL in France or the “premium padel” universe in Miami) further accelerate the phenomenon.