This week’s HOP London Padel Open will be the biggest padel tournament ever held in the UK – and for one pairing in the men’s draw it’s set to be “an extra special experience.”
Max Holloway and Jonathan Rowland will take to the court at the National Tennis Centre for their opening qualifying match on Thursday with little expectation of glory – but high hopes of launching a successful new business venture on a high-profile stage.
The London-based duo will use the event to officially launch Bullpadel in the UK and Ireland markets. The well-known Spanish brand has partnered with MRH Sport Ltd, which was co-founded by Max and R3-Sport Ltd (an investment, management and events agency co-owned by Jonathan and GB padel player Nikhil Mohindra).
“It will be a special week entering in such a prestigious event and launching our new venture,” Max told The Padel Paper.
“Jonathan and I have played in several tournaments together. We certainly know each other’s games very well, but whether we can make much of a dent in the draw remains to be seen!”
Max and Jonathan are long-time friends having shared many a match at the Chelsea Harbour Club, where both are long-time members.
Max is a former tennis player who spent a brief period at the world-famous Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida. In recent years, tennis has taken “a complete back seat” and he has totally immersed himself in padel. Before co-founding MRH Sport, he worked for Babolat and more recently as Category Director for adidas Padel in the UK.
Jonathan is from a business family and has multiple industry knowledge, including technology, property, banking and insurance.
With a 25-30% worldwide market share, Bullpadel is a leading global brand which originated in Spain. Its 2024 collection will be available in the UK from the end of September 2023 via most UK online retailers and pro shops including Padelshack, PDH Sports and Everything Padel.
Bullpadel’s new collection will feature the new Vertex 04 racket which boasts +10% more reactive, +8% larger sweet spot, +23% more aerodynamic, and -38% less vibration than its previous model. Whilst the Vertex offers most versatility, providing a balance of control and power, the Bullpadel Hack racket is for the more aggressive power player. Both are available in a diamond or hybrid shape.
Max said: “With an estimated total padel racket market size of 30,000 units, the UK and Ireland is still relatively untouched. There are approximately 350 courts built currently thus offering huge growth potential of somewhere between 15-20 times where the market is today.
“MRH Sport are excited to announce the new partnership with Bullpadel and eager to open the brand up to the wider consumer as it joins the UK and Ireland padel journey.”
MRH Sport will be running exclusive Bullpadel promotional events with national club partners and retailers from this autumn to allow players to test the latest products.
At this week’s FIP RISE event, Jonathan and Max face Spanish pair Alberto Marquina Espinosa and Marcos Gonzalex Gil in the first qualifying round at the NTC on Thursday.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, there are many familiar names from across the UK elite and padel club scene, including brothers Tom and Sandy Farquharson, British No.1 Christian Medina Murphy, Sam Jones, Chris Salisbury, Nikhil Mohindra, Frankie Langan and many more.
Get full info on the FIP RISE HOP London Padel Open here.
Main pic caption (l-r): Fernando Manzanares (Marketing Manager at Aguirre, Spain), Jonathan Rowland (Director at MRH Sport), Nikhil Mohindra (R3-Sport Ltd), Luis Cabanyes (Distribution Manager at Aguirre, Spain), Max Holloway (Director at MRH Sport)
