The Hexagon Cup trophy was presented to its inaugural winners, the Andy Murray co-founded Team AD/vantage, in London today as part of the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic.
The Classic, as it is known, is taking place for the first time from May 15-16 at London’s Hurlingham Club, and will feature sporting and entertainment celebrities along with selected teams and professionals, with an objective to raise funds and awareness for Laureus Sport for Good, to help disadvantaged children around the world.
In celebration of Team AD/vantage winning the inaugural Hexagon Cup in Madrid earlier this year, Arran Yentob, the team’s co-owner alongside three-time Grand Slam winner Murray and his former coach Dani Vallverdu, is joining forces with Team GB National Coach, John Leach, for an exhibition match on the first day of the tournament.
They will compete against a Hexagon Cup represented team including the event’s founder Enrique Buenaventura, and its Sporting General Manager and Director of Institutional Relationships, Carlos Almazán, an international padel legend.
Following Wednesday’s match, the tournament will host the official UK presentation of the Hexagon Cup to Team AD/vantage by padel convert and England cricket legend Sir Andrew Strauss.
Team AD/vantage Co-Owner, Arran Yentob, said: “Winning the Hexagon Cup was a day we will never forget, and a big moment for this British-owned padel team. Becoming the first ever winners of the world’s leading team padel competition, we hope can contribute to the early story of British padel, and it is something Andy, Dani and our team are hugely proud of. So, to get the chance to relive the moment on home soil, at the Hurlingham Club, will be something very special.
“We were delighted when Charlie Grave and the team at The Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic presented us with the opportunity and we can’t wait to head down to Hurlingham this week for the match and ceremony in front of home fans,” he added.
Hexagon Cup founder Buenaventura said: “We are excited that Team AD/Vantage will have the opportunity to lift the Hexagon Cup trophy on their home soil in London this week. Britain is a nation with a great racket sport history, and as a country it will be instrumental to the global growth of padel. So, it is fitting that Arran and his British-owned team will have the opportunity to celebrate its victory once again in front of a new legion of fans at the beautiful Hurlingham Club. This is the next step in the exciting Hexagon Cup story, as we look forward to the 2025 edition and realise our vision to grow the competition in the years ahead.”
Former Ashes-winning captain Strauss is a recent convert to padel and as Executive Chairman of TTB Sport is one of the people behind staging The Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic.
“It’s going to be a real honour to welcome the Andy Murray-backed Team AD/vantage to our event before handing over the trophy to them in front of a packed grandstand,” said Strauss. “Anyone who knows padel knows Carlos Almazán and as someone at the start of my padel journey, I will be studying the game with interest,” said Strauss.
Featuring the world’s top padel players, the Hexagon Cup will return in January 2025, where Team AD/vantage will defend its title against competition including Robert Lewandowski’s RL9, The Rafa Nadal Academy, the Eleven Eleven Team owned by Eva Longoria, and Team Bella Puerto Rico.
