From October 20th to 26th, the Rafa Nadal Academy is coming to COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives, with a new padel programme exclusive to our guests. In this COMO Conversation, we speak with Maribel Nadal, sister of the tennis legend and lynchpin of the Rafa Nadal Academy, about why padel is becoming so popular, the values that underscore any good player’s technique, and what makes it such a good beginner’s sport.
Maribel Nadal is the younger sister of Rafael Nadal, and Deputy General Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy. She’s the operational brain of the academy’s programmes, and a keen tennis and padel player in her own right.
Rafa always wanted to leave a legacy that would help young athletes fulfil their dreams. We worked on the academy’s concept for years to create programmes that would serve excellence both humanely and academically. Although we teach world-class sports technique, we also teach a system of values that crossover into all elements of life. And we’re always evolving, like with our padel programmes which we incorporated in 2021.
It is a racquet sport that requires a technique very similar to tennis, but it’s played on a smaller court. The main characteristic is that it’s played on an enclosed court with walls, which the ball is meant to bounce off, so there’s a different set of tactics to tennis. Padel is primarily a fun game; anyone can enjoy it from amateur to expert.
They have many things in common. Although these days, children train from a young age to play padel in its own right, historically, padel players were tennis professionals who decided to change sports. The truth is that if you’ve ever played tennis, you’ll find padel easier. Being a racquet sport, the swing is very similar and the slice and topspin strokes are very similar.
I first played a version of padel when I was a kid, but it’s really only in the last six or seven years that it’s become such a sensation. Now I find myself gripped by the professional padel circuit. I think a lot of the draw is that unlike many sports, which require many hours of practice before you can start having fun, padel is enjoyable from the very beginning. It’s so easy to learn that you have a positive evolution very quickly. As a team sport usually played in doubles, it’s also very social, which makes it ideal for friends to play together.
You need to have the desire to improve, the dedication to make the effort, and the right coach. Ultimately, becoming a great player takes time. It takes many hours of playing, repetitive exercises, and regular competition to improve. At the academy we work a lot on values because we think that being a good person is more important than anything else; those positive values translate to the way you play on court.
Anyone who likes sports. You don't need to be an expert or have a very high level, as we adapt to all levels and styles using our methodology. We’re not going to be able to cover all aspects of padel in one go, but the most important thing is that you have a good time, enjoy yourself and learn in a positive environment. There’s an amazing synergy around padel and it’s just a great atmosphere to experience.
The Rafa Nadal Academy will be teaching padel at COMO Maalifushi from October 20th to 26th.
For more information, or to book your place on the programme, contact us at res.maalifushi@comohotels.com.
