Some argue that it is in the "unlikely connections" that the best relationships emerge — the most lasting and fruitful. Is this the case for CUPRA and Padel? Two distinct universes that, in the words of Antonino Labate, Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations at CUPRA, have more in common than they appear.
“At CUPRA we always go beyond the obvious. We are well positioned in motorsport — as would be expected — but we wanted to go further. Padel, like CUPRA, has a very recent history and enormous potential. In addition, CUPRA clients and Padel practitioners have a similar lifestyle and a strong focus on performance. It was this set of factors that attracted us to this sport, which does not choose genders or ages”, said Antonino Labate.
In addition to this affinity in terms of values, there is also an affinity in ambition. “Padel is not yet an Olympic sport, but it will be very soon. There is a great desire for growth within the sport. A desire for growth that is also inscribed in CUPRA's DNA”, concluded Antonino Labate. An ambition that CUPRA has shown a willingness to support, and which has translated into support for Padel federations around the world.
A commitment that Luigi Carraro, president of the International Padel Federation (FIP), also recognizes: “CUPRA is not just a Padel sponsor, it is more than that. He is a partner and an ambassador for the sport”. Outside the four walls of the discipline, CUPRA also supports a “tribe of athletes” and sponsors several championships.
For the rest, it is to be expected that this “improbable connection” — “which makes perfect sense”, insists Antonino Labate — between Padel and CUPRA will continue for many years. It is a wish clearly shared by Antonino Labate and Luigi Carraro. From the fields of Padel to the roads.