In this episode of Padel Smash TV, we sit down with Felix Regalia, CEO and Founder of Varlion, one of the most iconic brands in padel history.

Felix shares the incredible story behind how Varlion started in Argentina in 1993, how the brand became a market leader through product innovation, and what happened during a difficult period of instability that forced the company to rebuild. He opens up about relaunching the brand, redesigning the collection, and building what he calls the next phase of Varlion’s legacy.
We also dive into why Felix believes the U.S. padel market today is similar to Spain in 1999, why he plans to personally lead Varlion’s expansion in America, and how the brand wants to win through product quality, hands-on education, key accounts, and direct market development.

On top of that, Felix talks about Varlion’s innovation mindset, new collections, expansion into pickleball, and the long-term goal of transferring decades of padel knowledge into other racket sports.

If you follow the business of padel, racket innovation, and the future of the U.S. market, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Topics covered:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Meet Felix Regalia
00:51 How Varlion Started in Argentina
01:44 Early innovation and growth
02:10 Becoming a leader in padel
02:23 What went wrong for Varlion
04:04 Restructuring the business
05:08 Major internal fraud and setbacks
06:54 Restarting from zero
07:03 The Varlion Legacy relaunch
07:22 Expansion into pickleball and beyond
08:35 Strategy for the U.S. market
09:05 Why product testing drives loyalty
09:33 Felix moving to the U.S.
10:14 Why America feels like Spain in 1999
10:52 Building the American team
11:16 Winning through education and market presence

At RacquetX, Padel Smash TV sat down with Alfons Bastida, Chief Marketing Officer of NOX, and Philippe Urreiztieta, USA NOX Distributor, for a deep conversation on the brand’s global vision and why the United States is one of its biggest priorities moving forward.

In this interview, we break down how NOX sees the future of padel, why the U.S. market is such a major opportunity, and what it takes to grow a specialist padel brand in a country where traditional tennis brands already have strong familiarity. Alfons shares NOX’s broader global strategy, including its focus on premium racket positioning, product innovation, and youth development through initiatives like the Next Future Academy, while Philippe explains how NOX USA is approaching the market from the ground up through grassroots activation, club relationships, B2B growth, and direct-to-consumer marketing.

What does one of the biggest representation agencies in the world see in padel?

In this episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Daniel Dios from WME Sports to break down how global brands are entering padel, why celebrity involvement matters, what makes a player commercially valuable, and why Arturo Coello became a key fit for WME’s vision.

Daniel takes us inside WME’s approach to the sport, explaining the three layers they focus on — pros, celebrities, and funds — and how those groups help accelerate padel’s growth in emerging markets. He also shares how major brands like On and Rolex were educated on the opportunity in padel, why those deals do not happen overnight, and what brands are really looking for before they commit.

This conversation also goes deeper into the future of the sport in the United States, the need for stronger infrastructure, the rise of celebrity-driven interest, and why the next generation of padel players must be more than just talented on court. According to Daniel, the future belongs to athletes who can perform, communicate, represent brands well, and become true role models.

If you care about the business of padel, brand partnerships, player representation, and the future growth of the sport worldwide, this is an interview you do not want to miss.

Subscribe to Padel Smash for more interviews, news, gear reviews, business insights, and stories shaping the future of padel.

In this special RacquetX 2026 episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with two key voices from the world of Babolat Padel: Jose Luis Sanz, Padel Business Leader and Global Marketing Director at Babolat, and pro player Alejandra Alonso.

This combined conversation gives listeners both sides of the brand — from the global business strategy behind Babolat’s growth in padel to the player perspective from one of the sport’s rising stars.

Jose Luis Sanz shares how Babolat is approaching the growth of padel in the United States through premium club partnerships, education, activation, exclusive product development, and long-term brand positioning. He also discusses the brand’s Lamborghini partnership, the U.S. market opportunity, and how Babolat is thinking about the future of padel globally.

Alejandra Alonso gives insight into her personal journey in padel, what it means to join the Babolat family, her competitive mindset, and the equipment she trusts on court, including the Technical Viper.

This episode is a great listen for anyone interested in the business of padel, athlete-brand relationships, product strategy, and the continued growth of the sport worldwide.

Episode 1 of 4 from our RacquetX 2026 coverage is here.

In this first episode, the Padel Smash TV team hits the floor at RacquetX to talk with some of the most interesting brands and leaders shaping the future of padel.

In this episode, we feature interviews with:

• Iain Pound from Boast on the brand’s return to the market, grassroots strategy, Tennis Channel activations, and the early success of their padel-focused collection
• Daniel Won from Blanca Padel on building a minimalist padel brand, keeping rackets affordable, and expanding through key partnerships
• Dani Homedes from Hexagon Cup on the event’s explosive growth, celebrity ownership, expansion plans, and future U.S. ambitions
• Enrique Garcia from Conquer Padel on franchise opportunities, club development, lease strategy, and how they help operators launch smarter
• Alfonso Bastida from Nox Padel on Nox’s global vision, U.S. growth strategy, product innovation, and competing in emerging markets

Plus, Majo roams the show floor to grab quick interviews and reactions from vendors across the event, giving you a wider look at the brands, products, and energy surrounding RacquetX.

Boast is making a serious return to racket sports, and in this episode of Padel Smash TV, Cesc and Julian sit down with Matthew Feuer, Owner and CEO of Boast, to talk about the brand’s heritage, why it faded, and how it’s now repositioning itself for the modern tennis and padel world.

Matt shares how Boast was acquired in 2024, why the brand is returning to its racket sports roots, and how nostalgia, premium materials, and a fresh performance line are shaping its future. The conversation also dives into Boast’s growing focus on padel, its upcoming capsule collection, club customization opportunities, and what fans can expect from the brand at RacquetX 2026.

If you love padel, tennis culture, heritage brands, and the business behind the sport, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Powered by RacquetX 2026

RacquetX is back for year three and it’s bigger, sharper, and more on-court than ever. In this interview, Robyn Duda (Co-Founder & CEO of RacquetX) walks us through what’s new for RacquetX 2026, including 10 total courts, a deeper Club Summit, the VIP Club Apex, and how the show is building a true “home court” for racquet sports - Padel, tennis, and pickleball.

You’ll hear how RacquetX iterates each year through a sponsor + attendee feedback loop, why the show moved to Fort Lauderdale, what activations to expect across the floor, and how their AI matchmaking app helps businesses schedule real meetings on site.

RacquetX 2026 Details (from Robyn):
📍 Broward County Convention Center (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
📅 March 13–15
🕙 Fri–Sat: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🕙 Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ General Admission: $50
👧 Kids (under ~14): Free
🏟️ Club Summit: $699 (includes perks + party access)
🤝 Business Pass: $195 (matchmaking app access)
🎫 Joint ticket (with facilities content): $799

If you’re a player, coach, club operator, investor, brand, or tech company, this is one of the best weekends of the year to see the industry in one place.

✅ Subscribe for more interviews, club coverage, and the business side of Padel.

Racket sports clubs everywhere face the same challenge: prime-time is packed, but mid-day court time sits empty. In this episode, we sit down with Daren Hornig (CourtsApp) to break down a platform built to solve that exact problem.

CourtsApp isn’t a court management system. It’s a court marketing marketplace — the “Expedia layer” that sits on top of tools like CourtReserve and PlayByPoint to help facilities promote availability, drive bookings, and increase revenue from perishable court inventory.

In this interview, we cover:

✅ Why most racket facilities struggle with digital marketing
✅ CourtsApp’s “Expedia for racket sports” model (search, map view, price comparison)
✅ Dynamic pricing to shift player habits and fill the 11am–4pm window
✅ How CourtsApp integrates with existing booking platforms via API
✅ The performance-only model for clubs (no long-term contract, paid only when courts fill)
✅ Why discovery matters for padel as it grows in the U.S.
✅ The future: analytics, open play matchmaking, and AI booking tools like “Hey Courtney”

If you’re a club owner, operator, or player who wants easier access to courts — this is one of the most practical conversations we’ve had about growth, monetization, and the tech stack behind modern racket facilities.

Subscribe for more interviews with founders, club operators, and the people building the future of padel.