Achieving success as an athlete requires immense self-motivation, determination, optimism, and a strong competitive spirit—the very same attributes needed to thrive as an entrepreneur. Therefore, it’s not surprising that many accomplished athletes transition seamlessly into the business world. Sandy Farquharson, a former professional tennis player and the founder of The Padel School, exemplifies this trend.
Padel, a racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, is experiencing explosive growth. According to the International Padel Federation, the sport boasts nearly 30 million players globally. Padel originated in Mexico and swiftly spread to Argentina and Spain. It is played on a rectangular court enclosed by walls, typically made of glass or mesh, where doubles teams compete by hitting the ball over the net after it bounces once on each side. The scoring system is similar to tennis, with matches usually decided in sets.
The Padel Journey Farquharson’s introduction to padel occurred ten years ago in Dubai. At the time, he was the head tennis coach at a local academy, having previously played tennis in college and professionally. He had also coached notable players, including his brother Tom, on the ATP and WTA tours. Despite his achievements, Farquharson had decided to leave Dubai and return to the U.K.
He recalls, “I loved Dubai, but I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to be long-term. Just as I was preparing to leave, I was asked to fill in for a player in a major padel tournament. We made it to the final, which coincided with my flight out of Dubai. I played the match with my suitcases courtside, and we won.”
On his way to the airport, Farquharson received a call from the director of the Dubai sports facility offering him the position of Rackets Manager. The only catch was that the club focused on padel, squash, and badminton, but not tennis.
“It was a tough decision,” he admits. “Padel was still relatively new, primarily played in Spain and Argentina. I wasn’t sure I was qualified to coach it. I agreed to take the job on the condition that they send me to Spain to train with the top padel players and their coaches. They agreed.”
Growing Popularity After months of intensive training, Farquharson began coaching the UAE padel team, organising tournaments, and playing for Great Britain on the world padel tour, the professional circuit. In 2018, he started creating social media content for his players in Dubai, but it quickly gained traction with a padel group in Sweden, the first English-speaking country to engage with his content.
The sport’s popularity soon spread across Europe, reaching Italy, France, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and recently, the Netherlands. Recognising the potential of his online content, Farquharson decided to expand.
“My main goal was to produce the best possible content,” he says. “However, YouTube ad revenue wasn’t sufficient. To improve our video quality and hire a great editor, I needed a steady income stream.”
While developing the platform’s content, he identified a demand for personalised coaching and began organising workshops and events at padel clubs worldwide. The revenue from these activities funded the development of the digital platform, which helped grow The Padel School’s global community. In 2019, he officially launched The Padel School, later joined by his brother Tom, who had also switched to padel.
Athletes as Entrepreneurs The Padel School’s digital platform now attracts around nine million views per month across various social media channels. Two years ago, the school introduced a subscription model, which has since garnered over 800 members and is growing. The first Padel School academy is set to open in Florida this summer, with plans for a padel club in the UK, where player numbers have been slow to increase.
One challenge to the sport’s growth has been the shortage of facilities and coaches. However, data from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) shows that by the end of Q1 2024, there were 450 courts nationwide and up to 150,000 players in the UK Farquharson is actively involved in padel coach training and providing high-quality lessons.
Tom Murray, Head of Padel at the LTA, says, “When we integrated padel into the LTA in 2019, there were only 50 courts and approximately 6,000 players. In 2022, we introduced a new coaching course and pathway. Since then, the LTA has qualified 100 padel instructors as of June 2024, up from 50 at the start of the year. It’s encouraging to see athletes promoting and working in the sport as entrepreneurs.”
Having started when the sport was relatively unknown in many parts of the world, The Padel School has significantly impacted the commercial side of the sport. “What we’ve accomplished is beyond anything I imagined when I was playing tennis professionally,” Farquharson says. “It’s been a challenging but incredibly exciting entrepreneurial journey.”
Rob Mitchell, commercial director of Premier Padel, the global competition series for elite players, is thrilled with the growing enthusiasm for padel. He says, “Everyone involved shares a common goal: to grow the sport worldwide. This involves developing innovative products and services for future padel players, attracting sponsorship and investment, and launching initiatives that inspire future generations. Strong ambassadors like Sandy are crucial to taking padel to new heights globally.”
The quotes from Farquharson, Murray, and Mitchell are from an interview conducted by Forbes.
