At RacquetX 2026, Cesc and Julian sit down with Jose Luis Sanz, Padel Business Leader and Global Marketing Director at Babolat, to talk about how one of the most recognized racket sport brands in the world is approaching the fast-growing U.S. padel market.
In this interview, Jose breaks down Babolat’s strategy for growing padel in America through premium club partnerships, field activation, education, events, and exclusive product launches. He also shares insight into Babolat’s unique Lamborghini partnership, the brand’s focus on American player identity, and the vision behind its limited-edition All-American racket.
We also get into:
– How Babolat is building a global ecosystem of partners
– Why education matters just as much as selling rackets
– The difference between premium activation vs. simple brand placement
– Babolat’s approach to the U.S. market compared to tennis
– Emerging global padel markets like the UK, India, Indonesia, and beyond
– The story behind the exclusive Babolat x Lamborghini rackets
– Thoughts on Juan Lebrón, player personality, and pro-level racket customization
This is a great conversation for anyone following the business of padel, the growth of the sport in the United States, and the brands helping shape its future.
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00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet Jose Luis Sanz from Babolat
01:15 Babolat’s ecosystem and U.S. growth strategy
01:40 Why activation and education matter
02:17 Babolat’s advantage in the U.S. market
03:13 Premium clubs vs quantity strategy
04:01 Is Babolat expanding into more product categories?
04:41 Emerging global padel markets
05:36 Babolat’s 2026 U.S. push
06:25 Why Babolat is focusing on American identity
07:12 The Babolat x Lamborghini partnership
08:27 The ultra-exclusive Lamborghini racket
09:17 Power, comfort, and technology in the racket
10:17 The All-American limited-edition racket
11:50 Pricing and availability
12:10 Juan Lebrón, personality, and brand value
13:30 Are pro player rackets customized?
14:09 Where to buy Babolat padel rackets
14:14 Final thoughts
It was a pleasure for us to being at your podcast!