This summer’s second Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic at the Hurlingham Club will feature not just celebrities, pro players, premium hospitality and fundraising, but also the UK’s first ever floating padel court.
Charlie Grave, Head of Padel at investment, advisory and marketing group TTB Sport, has partnered with Finnish company Floating Padel Oy and Cheshire-based Padel Ventures, who will set up the padel court in the middle of the Hurlingham Club’s picturesque lake.
After the event is over, the floating court will be transported to the north west where it will form part of the recently-announced three-court floating club at Prince’s Dock on Liverpool Waters.
Organiser Grave is the sports marketing titan who ran the Champions Tennis events at the Royal Albert Hall for 27 years as well as the traditional pre-Wimbledon tournament at the Hurlingham Club which is now known as the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.
Looking ahead to the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic on 14-15 May, Charlie told The Padel Paper: “The floating court on the beautiful lake at The Hurlingham Club is the big twist for our second edition this year. It will be the first such court ever to be seen in the UK.
“The lake is only a few yards from the club’s three existing padel courts. It’s going to be seriously cool. The setting is stunning.
“We’re transporting the raft over from Finland for the Classic and it’s then going up to Liverpool to be put in for the new club in the docks. We will be the guinea pigs. What on earth could go wrong?! I’m almost as nervous as when we put a tennis court into the Royal Albert Hall!”
The second Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic will feature sporting icons such as former England Test captains Michael Vaughan and Sir Andrew Strauss, legendary fast bowler James Anderson, Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill, tennis coach Judy Murray, former England and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp and ex-Australia scrum-half George Gregan.
The two-day tournament will have 16 teams representing sponsors vying for the Alfred Dunhill Cup. Each pair can play their ‘proker’ by bringing on a designated pro player for key points. Teams can also use their ‘red ball’ which is worth double points.
The pros will play exhibition matches on the grandstand court and pros will then partner with sporting legends in a pro-celebrity tournament.
“Last year’s inaugural event was talked about as the best padel event people had ever been to in the UK,” said Grave. “It was an exclusive garden party-style atmosphere. We had an array of top quality sponsors who have all returned for year two, which is always a great sign. It put wind in our sails.
“I have really enjoyed working with Nick Hoyle, Holly Millward, Sir Andrew Strauss and our colleagues at TTB Sport. To be in the events space is a really uplifting feeling. We simply cannot wait for the event.”
