The world's fastest-growing participation sport, padel, is receiving a major celebrity-powered push towards potential Olympic inclusion, thanks to a new international team competition backed by sporting icons.
Star Power Fuels Global Expansion
Sergio Aguero, Anthony Joshua, and Andy Murray are among the high-profile names championing padel's rapid rise. Their involvement is central to the newly launched Hexagon World Series, a team-based competition set to begin in 2026. This new series, developed with sports agency 54, will build on the existing Hexagon Cup and has the full backing of the International Padel Federation (FIP).
The format is designed for maximum spectator appeal. While padel is massively popular in Spain and Argentina—countries that dominate the professional rankings—the new series aims to create a more global following. Over 30 million people currently play the racket sport worldwide, and this initiative seeks to accelerate that growth further.
A Formula for Broader Appeal
Hexagon Cup founder Enrique Buenaventura drew a direct comparison to Formula 1 to explain the strategy. "I have been in the UK for the last 12 years, it is growing as a participation sport but it’s very difficult for UK people to follow the professional tour because there is no UK professional competing," he said.
"But suddenly you have a UK team in the Hexagon Cup. It’s like Formula 1; you have Ferrari, who are the Italian team and have all the followers from Italy, but the drivers can be Spanish and French. By having a team with Andy Murray and Anthony Joshua, you bring the fans to follow those teams." He believes this model will help cultivate future professional stars from a wider range of nations.
Pioneering Gender Equality in Sport
A standout feature of the Hexagon World Series is its commitment to true gender equality. Each team will consist of two men and two women, with points from all matches contributing to the overall team score. This structure ensures equal emphasis on both the men's and women's games.
Gary Davidson, Chief Operating Officer at 54, highlighted how padel's naturally balanced participation rates make this approach logical. "I come primarily from golf, where you have 8% female participation if you’re lucky. In padel, 47% were female in the FIP report. That is unbelievable and it’s a huge opportunity," he stated.
"It’s important for us to put men and women on equal footing. The men will cheer on the women, the women will cheer on the men, because their prize money depends on their team. I’m not sure there is another sport that properly does that." The series will also use a single show court, eliminating any disparity in arena size for matches.
With its blend of celebrity influence, an innovative team format, and a built-in principle of equality, the Hexagon World Series represents a significant step in padel's journey to becoming a mainstream global spectacle and a strong contender for future Olympic recognition.
