England cricket legend Sir Andrew Strauss and Rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana will headline a star-studded Pro-Am and corporate competition at The Hurlingham Club in West London in May 2024.
Both Ashes-winning skipper Strauss and South African legend Habana have recently become avid converts to the world’s fastest-growing sport and are set to join its ever-growing army of celebrity fans.
Founded by investment, advisory and marketing group TTB Sport Capital and Laureus Sport for Good, the invite-only Padel Classic will be played over 15-16 May next year and will combine a corporate padel challenge with a high-end networking event.
The Padel Classic will feature celebrities, professional players and a select group of corporates and luxury brands vying for honours. The event is planned as the first of a global rollout of Padel Classic Pro-Am competitions in the years ahead.
The Classic follows in the footsteps of the Pro Am Padel Tour, which has already staged its first two events at the Roehampton Club and the National Tennis Centre, with stars such as ex-England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and former England Test skipper Michael Vaughan taking part. The Padel Classic is further evidence of padel’s ever-growing profile and popularity amongst British and international sporting glitterati.
Charlie Grave, Co-Founder of the Padel Classic, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be creating and staging the first Padel Classic at Hurlingham. With The Hurlingham Club and Laureus Sport for Good alongside us, we can’t think of better partners.
“Having been involved in starting and managing the popular annual pre-Wimbledon Tennis Classic at The Hurlingham Club over the last 26 years, and now with the amazing growth of padel, we feel it’s the perfect time for the Padel Classic to also establish itself in the sporting calendar.
“Padel is such an enjoyable, inclusive and engaging sport to play. We believe the opportunity to participate, mingle with and watch the celebrities and pros show us all how it’s done will provide the perfect cocktail for a day of entertainment.”
Sir Andrew Strauss, TTB Sport Capital Executive Chair, said: “I am excited to be competing in the inaugural Padel Classic at The Hurlingham Club next summer. In recent years, I’ve become passionate about padel, a sport which, the more people I speak to, the more I realise its huge appeal.
“As a former professional sportsman who hasn’t lost his competitive spirit, I look forward to going up against my friend and Laureus Academy Member, Bryan Habana for padel honours on the lawns of the Hurlingham next May.”
Bryan Habana, Laureus Academy Member, said: “I am delighted to be joining the Padel Classic next summer, and to have the opportunity to play alongside celebrities, professional players and individuals from the corporate sector. Padel is a hugely compelling sport and one that I encourage anyone to get on court and try.
“My involvement in The Padel Classic will be a great opportunity to get the competitive juices flowing again and, most importantly, to raise funds and awareness for Laureus Sport for Good.”
The strictly-by-invitation event will raise funds for Laureus Sport for Good, a global charity that supports programmes and organisations around the world that use the power of sport to help young people overcome violence, discrimination and inequality. In 2022, Laureus Sport for Good supported 304 programmes across 42 countries and territories with funding, training, and other technical assistance.
