Cupra’s padel squad comes to the screen

Is this Padel: The Movie, presented by Cupra?

Kind of, yeah. Working with Spanish communications giant Telefonica, and its streaming service, Movistar Plus, Cupra has helped to put together a 75 minute documentary — Gamechangers: The Next Generation Of Padel Players — following the fortunes of of five new players, most of whom don’t come from monied backgrounds, as they take on first edition of Cupra’s international contest, from the tournament in Madrid to the Grand Final in Barcelona. The prize? A scholarship to take the best player onto professional status. 

Who are these new padel players?

At the heart of the documentary are the stories of five young scholarship winners: David Esteban (19, Spain), Javier Bolumar (18, Spain), Pietro Giovannini (18, Italy), Milla Blaschke(18, Germany) and Aina Valls (17, Spain). Together with standout finalists Zsombor Schmidt-Bohn (Hungary) and Jimena Ortiz (Mexico). They’re not just being thrown into the competition all on their own, either. Cupra has its own Padel Tribe, and some of the big stars of that — the likes of professional players including Ari Sánchez, Ale Galán, Paula Josemaría, Bea González, Javi Garrido, Jon Sanz, Andrea Ustero, Delfi Brea, Agustín Tapia and Momo González contributed to the programme, alongside local ambassadors such as Alix Collombon and Victoria Kurz.

“Looking back at the beginning of my own career, I know how important it is to have someone believe in you and give you the right opportunity at the right time. Gamechangers can make a real difference for these young players, not only by giving them visibility, but by helping them take meaningful steps towards the professional game, and being part of this has truly been a honour,” said Ari Sánchez, professional padel player and Cupra Padel Tribe member.

How did the tournament pan out?

Well, Cupra brought 183 players through six cities in eight countries for Gamechangers, looking for the best new padel talent. At the end, five winners were picked, who won a scholarship programme including year-round professional support, training stages at the Manu Martín Academy, experiences at FIP Platinum tournaments, sessions with the Cupra Padel Tribe and €10,000 in financial support.

“Gamechangers represented an opportunity that many participants would not normally have had. They stood out, not only for the standard of play, but also for their attitude and competitive mindset. The programme gives them access to the guidance, training and experience they need to continue developing,” said Manu Martín, founder of the Manu Martín Academy.

Will Cupra be doing more with padel?

Almost certainly. The brand has been involved with the sport since 2019, a commitment that has seen it support official competitions, collaborate with the FIP and sponsor over 1,220 tournaments in more than 78 countries.

With Gamechangers, Cupra says that it “Continues to strengthen a connection with padel by supporting emerging talent, creating real opportunities and helping shape the future of the sport.”

Speaking at the premiere of the film, Ignasi Prieto, Cupra’s chief brand officer, said: “At Cupra, we are on a mission to support young talent, and Gamechangers is how we do that in the world of padel. We are giving young players a genuine opportunity to show their potential and take the next step in their careers. Throughout the contest, we discovered a generation defined not only by talent, but also by ambition, resilience and a determination to challenge what comes next. These stories deserved to be told, and this documentary allows us to share them with a much wider audience.”