In the bustling world of American Padel, a young Venezuelan powerhouse has risen to the top, captivating audiences and dominating the courts. Meet Luis Estrada, the number one Padel player in the United States, whose journey into this dynamic sport has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Estrada’s path to Padel stardom began as a former tennis player, honing his skills on the courts. “I was a normal guy, I used to be a really good tennis player,” he recalls. “I still love tennis, even though I don’t play anymore.” But it wasn’t until 2021, when the first Padel courts were installed at the USTA national campus, that Estrada’s life took an unexpected turn.
“I got introduced to Marcos El Pilar, and Marcos El Pilar from the beginning, when he saw me play, he said like, ‘you could be really good. It’s a really good opportunity,’“ Estrada explains. It was that fateful meeting that ignited his passion for the sport, and within a matter of days, Estrada was on his way to becoming a certified Padel coach, determined to help grow the sport in the United States.
The transition from tennis to Padel, however, was not without its challenges. Estrada admits that his first year was a struggle, as he had to unlearn certain tennis habits and embrace the unique demands of the Padel court. “I didn’t win a single match,” he recalls. He was winning matches against less experienced players. Still, against the top Padel players, he was making the common mistake of “letting the ball go to the glass” – i.e. allowing the ball to hit the back glass wall without attempting to play it.
But Estrada’s determination and patience paid off, and with the guidance of Marcos El Pilar, he began to master the art of Padel. “Letting the ball go, playing slower, knowing when to go, knowing when to stay,” he shares. “I would say Marcos helped me a lot in that.”
As Estrada’s skills grew, so did his ambition. In 2021, he and his partner, Nico, embarked on a journey to Madrid, where they trained with some of the best Padel players in the world, including Seba Nerone, Coelho, Paquito, Sancho, and Garrido. “We got to train with the best players in the world,” Estrada beams. “I mean, we got to be with Coelho in the court. We trained for an hour and a half.”
The experience was eye-opening, as Estrada witnessed firsthand the level of play at the top of the Padel world. “The way they play, they play by memory. The boys always this close to an edge. They’re not missing. They’re countering every shot they have.” He quickly realized that to compete at the highest level, he would need to continue to push himself and his game. Watch the full podcast interview here.
Estrada’s determination to elevate the sport in the United States has led him to become a driving force behind the Professional Padel League (PPL), a team-based format that he believes will captivate American audiences. “It’s like college tennis and something that I didn’t have, but I had in Venezuela, playing for our city, our country,” he explains. “I think it’s something great, because in the US, people feel identified with their city, so if they know they can root for something more than just a player, they can root for their city.”
The excitement surrounding the PPL is palpable, with Estrada revealing his star-studded team for the upcoming season, including the likes of Tolito Aguirre, Javi Leal, and Jessica Castillo. “It’s not just like, you’re just watching a player, and then, oh, they’re gonna play tomorrow. No, you gotta wait to see the team and see what happens, and the fact that it’s a league, and it’s not just a tournament,” he shares.
As Estrada continues to push the boundaries of Padel in the United States, his passion for the sport is evident in every word. “Padel changed my life, for sure,” he says. “I was in a point that I was done with tennis, I was just teaching, and then the fact that I’m open to competing again. I would say it’s such a fun sport.”
With his unwavering dedication, infectious enthusiasm, and a roster of world-class talent, Luis Estrada is poised to take the American Padel circuit by storm. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, all eyes will be on this rising star, who is determined to leave an indelible mark on the game he loves. Click Here to listen to the full episode.
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