The 2025 Pro Am Padel Tour got off to a truly spectacular start with a two-day event at Rocket Padel Beckton, East London, bringing elite sport and big-name celebrities together for a cause-driven, action-packed extravaganza.
In partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the tour opened on Wednesday 4 June with its inaugural Community Day. You can read more about the packed programme of free, inclusive padel sessions which engaged over 200 participants, here.
On Thursday 5 June, the Pro Am Padel Tour’s main event featured an all-new team format and the first-ever Celebrity Showdown.
Each team was made up of six celebrities, six professional players, and two rising stars from the Next-Gen ranks. For the first time, the all-celebrity showdown saw celebrities go head-to-head without their pro team-mates, delivering a thrilling, nail-biting finish to the day’s competition.
Former England rugby star and Celebrity Traitors finalist Joe Marler led Team Marler, which featured Gabriel Agbonlahor (ex-Aston Villa striker and talkSPORT presenter), Johnny Fisher (pro boxer), Chemmy Alcott (four-time Olympian, Ski Sunday presenter), Casey O’Gorman (TV personality) and Jorgie Porter (actress).
Comedian and JM Padel Academy founder Jason Manford captained Team Manford, who were represented by Richard Fleeshman (actor), Ugo Monye (ex-England rugby star and sports pundit), Chris Stark (radio presenter), Melissa Reddy (TV presenter), and Charlotte Dawson (TV personality).
The event was hosted by TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and Emily Kilner, who kept energy levels high and the crowd engaged throughout the day.
The celebrity squads were joined by top-ranked GB professionals, including Aimee Gibson (GB no.1), Tia Norton (GB no.3), Louie Harris (GB no.3) and Rafa Vega (LTA No. 1), delivering tricks shots aplenty in front of a packed crowd.
The day also featured a standout Next-Gen Exhibition, showcasing junior talents Chloe De La Mare (girls’ under 18 no.1), her brother Liam De La Mare (boys’ under 18 no.1), Harley Dixon (boys’ under 16 no.2), Andrew Dunn (boys’ under 14 no.2) and Elizabeth Vellacott (girls’ under 14 no.1).
Team Manford emerged victorious and their win secured a £10,000 contribution to the Captain’s Fund, a new charitable initiative launched this season, with each captain selecting a charity to support. Additional funds will be raised through celebrity challenges at each stop on the Tour, with the total awarded to the winning captain’s chosen cause at the National Final.
Pro Am Padel Tour founder Oliver Morgan said: “The first event of 2025 surpassed all our expectations and we are particularly delighted by the impact of our inaugural community day. Huge thanks to our Strategic Partners, the LTA, for helping us grow the sport and make it more inclusive and accessible.
“The celebrity engagement that Pro Am Padel Tour achieves comes with a responsibility to use that profile to grow the sport at grassroots level. The LTA are the perfect partners to enable us to achieve that, benefiting communities and introducing the game to a host of new demographics.”
Chemmy Alcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor were named MVPs, each receiving a Certina DS-7 timepiece in recognition of their standout performances.
All players left with exclusive gift bags featuring items from Yoovy, Skechers, Nox, CUPRA and Padel Shack.
The 2025 Pro Am Padel Tour continues in July, September, and October, with the National Final taking place in Central London.
The Tour is supported by automotive partner CUPRA, alongside official partners Skechers, Certina, and Nox.
