There are padel fans, and then there are people who book flights to Milan specifically to watch the world's best play in a packed indoor arena under purple lights. We fall firmly into the second category.
In October 2025, Max and Axel — together with a group of padel-obsessed friends — made the trip to Milan for the Premier Padel P2 event. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made in years.
The Arena
The venue was electric from the moment we walked in. A sold-out indoor arena, blue courts gleaming under professional lighting, and a crowd that genuinely understood every point — not just applauding winners, but groaning at net cords and holding their breath through long rallies. This is what padel at the top level looks like.
We had great seats — close enough to see the spin on every ball and hear the communication between partners on court. If you've only ever watched padel on a screen, nothing prepares you for just how fast the game is in person, and how much of the strategy becomes visible when you're right there at courtside.
El Clásico — The Final
The final was the match everyone had been waiting for: Juan Lebrón Chingotto & Alejandro Galán against Arturo Coello & Agustín Tapia. In padel circles, this fixture has its own name — El Clásico. Two of the sport's great partnerships, a genuine rivalry, and some of the most gifted players to ever pick up a racket.
Galán — instantly recognisable in his white cap — was outstanding throughout. His movement and composure under pressure were something else entirely. Chingotto matched him point for point with his ferocious pace and aggressive net play.
Coello and Tapia — the younger, hungrier pair — pushed them hard. There were moments in the second set where the momentum seemed to shift completely. The crowd was on its feet. But Chingotto and Galán held their nerve, playing some of the most precise padel we've ever seen in person. They took the title.
Watching Galán control the net in the deciding moments — the placement, the patience, the reading of where Tapia was going to attack — that's the kind of detail that makes you want to get back on court and work on your own game immediately.
Courtside Access & Meeting the Pros
One of the unexpected highlights was just how accessible the players were. After matches, they came right to the edge of the court to sign balls and take photos with fans. Axel managed to get courtside with one of the pros for a photo — the kind of moment you don't forget.
We also watched a top women's player sign autographs — a reminder that the women's game at this level is every bit as compelling and worth following closely.
What We Took Away
Beyond the spectacle, watching professional padel at this level is genuinely educational. You notice things that are impossible to see on video: the angles players choose, how far they take the ball before changing direction, the subtle positioning adjustments between rallies, and above all — the partnership. Doubles padel at the top level is about trust and communication as much as it is about individual skill.
These are exactly the kinds of insights — the tactical details you absorb from watching the best in the world — that we bring back to the court with us. And ultimately, to our camps.
Why This Matters for Plett Padel Camp
We didn't go to Milan just for a weekend away. We went because we genuinely love this sport, follow it closely, and want to keep learning. That's what drives everything about Plett Padel Camp — a real passion for padel, combined with a desire to share it with others in the most beautiful setting we know.
If you want to train with people who live and breathe padel — who fly across Europe to watch El Clásico finals in person — we'd love to have you join us in Plettenberg Bay.
