Building the Future of U.S. Padel | Dhanielly Quevedo

In this episode of The Off-Court Podcast, we’re joined by Dhanielly “Dhany” Quevedo — Top 10 U.S. padel athlete and founder of Elite Sports Management — to break down what the future of padel in the United States really looks like.

We dive into Dhany’s journey from elite junior tennis to competing at the top of U.S. padel, why Miami has emerged as a major hub for the sport, and how padel is trying to carve out its place in a country dominated by pickleball. Dhany shares her perspective on what’s driving padel’s growth, what’s holding it back, and what needs to change for the sport to truly go mainstream in the U.S.

Beyond the court, we explore the business side of padel — from club models and athlete support to why Dhany decided to launch Elite Sports Management, the first female-owned, padel-focused sports agency in the country. We also talk about representation, leadership, and what it takes to balance life as both a high-level athlete and a founder.

Guest Links:
Dhany Quevedo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhany_quevedo/?hl=en-gb

Elite Sports Management: https://www.elitesportsmgt.com/

Elite Sports Management on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elitesportsmanagement__/?hl=en-gb

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:46 Transition from Tennis to Padel
04:42 The Current Level of Competitive Padel in the U.S.
05:47 The Growth of Padel in the U.S.
10:21 Pickleball vs Padel in the U.S.
15:04 What’s Holding the Growth of Padel Back in the U.S.?
16:37 The Cost of Playing Padel
23:27 Can the U.S. Ecosystem Support Professional Padel Players?
25:10 The Launch of Elite Sports Management
29:16 Finding Investment in Business & Padel
31:31 What Will ESM Provide for Pro Padel Players?
33:17 Balancing Life as a Founder & Athlete
35:34 Where Does Dhany See ESM in the Next 5 Years?
38:20 The Most Empowering & Challenging Aspects of the Journey
41:49 Entering the World of Padel as an Entrepreneur
44:30 Rapid Fire Questions with Dhany
48:33 Dhany’s Closing Message

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