UNITY OF PURPOSE
As of February 2024, the Italian apparel brand Padel Mi Amor has added Víctor Ruiz—who ranks among the top 20 in the world according to the FIP rankings—to its roster of ambassadors. We sat down with him to discuss the partnership, which has also led to the creation of a dedicated line, as well as to review past performance and future goals.
Great people for great ambitions. This phrase sums up the partnership between one of the circuit’s top players, Spain’s Víctor Ruiz, and one of the most dynamic and up-and-coming brands on the Italian scene. Thanks to this agreement—along with those involving three other Spanish players we’ve already mentioned (Teo Zapata, Pedro Meléndez, and Carmen Castillón)—the brand has also made its international ambitions clear. These ambitions were cleverly implied from the very beginning, even in the choice of the brand’s name.
We’re talking about Padel Mi Amor, a brand founded in 2021 by Paolo Fina together with his partner—both in business and in life—Alessandra. It’s a brand that many of you have already come to know, both through the content on Padelbiz and through the brand’s presence at major padel events. First and foremost, the two Premier tournaments in Milan (last December) and Rome (mid-June), where Padel Mi Amor will be out in full force, handing out the two signature series jerseys designed by Teo and Víctor. We actually had a great chat with Víctor himself—“on and off the court.”
s Víctor Ruiz, No. 20 in the FIP rankings
How did your partnership with Padel Mi Amor come about, and what does it involve?
The partnership came about after my agreement with my previous brand ended, thanks to my agent, who was familiar with the Padel Mi Amor project. Everything went very smoothly from the moment we got in touch, because we clicked right away. We then signed a two-season sponsorship deal, which I’m very happy about. The brand supports me in every way, and it’s also very easy to work with the team because of their great dedication. We’re accomplishing things that we really enjoy and that bring us a lot of satisfaction.
The brand is about to launch an exclusive collection called “Víctor Ruiz por Padel Mi Amor.” What was your contribution to this collaboration?
I’m happy to have my own collection. When we first started talking about the project, we were all clear on our intention to create something that would define us and set us apart from the rest. So we began working on this personal line. Each of us contributed our own vision and ideas, and I’m pleased with the final result. What I find most appealing, aside from the design, is the quality of the garments. I’ve always wanted to work with an Italian clothing brand because they’re the best in the industry.
Why did you initially decide to take up padel?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a great passion for this sport. At first, I didn’t think I’d be able to become a professional. But little by little, the results started coming, and so this sport also became my job.
Tell us a little about this season. Are you satisfied with what you’ve accomplished so far, and what are your goals?
Honestly, I’m not happy with our results so far this season. We’ve had some bad luck with the draw, and we haven’t been up to par in the competitions. We need to improve because we’ve now reached a level where we’re capable of doing much better. I also think that playing all our tournaments on the road has hurt us to some extent, because when you play that way, many other factors—besides the game itself—come into play. Our goal is to stay as close as possible to—or within—the top eight pairs in the world.
How was your experience at the Pro Padel League in Miami?
It was a wonderful experience. Padel is booming in the United States, and this league is investing heavily in bringing the world’s best players there. I’m happy with my team (Flowrida Goats), and we’ll see if we can win something.
Do you think the Premier Padel organization has changed—including in terms of players’ rights—since it incorporated the World Padel Tour?
Without a doubt. Although there are areas where Premier Padel can improve, the leap in quality already evident in the new circuit is enormous. Every aspect of the professional game has improved; they’ve made padel more accessible to everyone, more global… What we are today bears no resemblance to what we were before.
What achievement in your professional career are you most proud of?
If I had to pick one tournament from my career, I’d definitely choose the one we played in Milan in 2022, where we made it to the final against Galán-Lebrón. In that tournament, we played spectacular padel and beat some very strong teams. I think that at that level, we’re capable of beating anyone, but it’s very difficult to maintain.
You’ve been in a relationship with Lucas Bergamini for a few years now. In your opinion, what’s the secret to why you two are still together? In recent years, so many couples have ended up breaking up—why do you think that happens?
We understand each other very well, both on and off the field. And we can’t deny that our results have also helped make our partnership stronger. This time we’ve spent together—even though we’ve faced some challenges—has helped us discover what we’re capable of, and now that things aren’t going well, we know that if we work hard, we’ll be able to get back to where we were before. The instability of partnerships today doesn’t help anyone, because people are looking for immediate results, and that isn’t always possible.
Do you have any other sponsors? How do they support you?
Yes, the main one is Urich, the racquet brand that joined us a few months ago. We’re trying to create the best racquet in the world, and I’m really passionate about this project. Then we have sponsors like Padelmit, Grupo Inglés, Cartago Center, and Bipi. I’m very happy with the companies that have put their faith in me, and I try to repay that trust by staying committed and delivering results.
Fabio Maraccani, General Manager and Sales Director, Speaks
Starting this year, Padel Mi Amor has added another “top player” to its team. We’re not talking about an athlete, but rather a key figure with extensive experience in the sports and lifestyle markets—it’s no coincidence that he holds the dual roles of general manager and sales director. With a background as sales manager at Oakley, Umbro, Superga, K-Way, and Brekka, Fabio is putting his professionalism and expertise to work for the Milan-based company. With excellent results, judging by the brand’s growing presence in specialty stores and major sports retail chains, including DF Sport Specialist, which features a dedicated section in its new and beautiful store in Lissone. The same goes for the Italian distribution of Royal Padel racquets.
How is the brand’s business strategy evolving?
We are pleased to have quickly built a highly competent sales team in the padel market. The project was well-received, and the sales force immediately recognized its solidity, ambition, and vision, and embraced its goals.
What does the addition of Víctor Ruiz to your roster of ambassadors mean to you?
Our partnership with a global padel icon like Víctor Ruiz has had a huge impact both on the professional circuit and in the market. First of all, we are the first Italian technical sponsor to outfit a top-20 player in the world, and this has inevitably generated a great deal of astonishment and interest. Furthermore, for a young brand like ours, being able to present ourselves to customers through a partnership of this caliber significantly boosts our credibility.
You also recently opened your own section inside DF Sport Specialist in Lissone. Can you tell us a little about it?
Having a wall display featuring Padel Mi Amor products on the opening day of the new flagship store—a project strongly championed by Sergio Longoni—is a source of immense satisfaction for us. It proves that hard work pays off and that projects presented to a serious and highly prestigious partner like DF Sport Specialist find fertile ground. We are particularly proud of this initiative. What’s more, it is generating sales results that, quite frankly, exceed all expectations. And this is just the beginning!
