What People Say About Us

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!

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN PADELBIZ No. 4/2024]

Padel: Mi Amor apparel—the champions’ favorite… What’s New

Victor Ruiz, the world No. 16 and a finalist at the Milano Premier Padel, has also become a brand ambassador for the Milan-based brand.

How do padel champions dress? Just look at them on the court… Among the new faces of Padel Mi Amor is Victor Ruiz, the recent finalist at the Milano Premier Padel and No. 16 in the world rankings; since February, he has been a Padel Mi Amor ambassador and will wear the brand’s apparel throughout 2024. But that’s not all: an exclusive clothing collection dedicated specifically to the Spanish champion, “Padel Mi Amor por Victor Ruiz,” will be launched.

Like Ruiz, other top players—including Teo Zapata (ranked No. 42), Pedro Meléndez (No. 90), and Carmen Castillón (No. 63)—have also chosen this padel apparel and accessories brand. Furthermore, the iconic sportswear brand Padel Mi Amor—founded in Milan in 2021 by Paolo Fina and his partner Alessandra—is making a name for itself across the board, having also become the official distributor in Italy of Royal Padel racquets.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT CLOTHING – Padel is a sport that’s constantly growing and has literally exploded in popularity in Italy and around the world in recent years. As the sport has reached professional levels, there’s been an increasingly thorough search for the right clothing to improve performance: “I discovered Padel Mi Amor on Instagram. I saw that they had an Andalusian teammate on their roster, so I looked them up and fell in love with their clothes—I really noticed the quality. A major plus is their fabric, which keeps you feeling comfortable at all times,” explained Carmen Castillon herself.

EXPERIENCE – After all, Fabio Maccarani, the sales director at Padel Mi Amor, also has extensive experience in the world of sports apparel: “I’ve held sales and marketing management positions at various companies in the sporting goods and sportswear industries. I started at Oakley and then moved on to Umbro, Superga, K-Way, and finally Brekka. During my long tenure at Brekka, I became involved in the world of padel and became a distributor for Siux in 2021. Having developed a passion for this sport, I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to lead the Padel Mi Amor project and support a clothing line entirely dedicated to padel.”

AT THE PADEL TREND EXPO – Padel Mi Amor was also present at the Padel Trend Expo in Milan, the major event held at the Allianz MICO Fiera Milano City, alongside numerous major brands, last January. Participating in this true “padel expo” further helped strengthen Padel Mi Amor’s image in Italy and around the world, and the response was overwhelmingly positive: “Everything went smoothly with Paolo and Alessandra,” said Teo Zapata, “because we work together with great dedication and there’s a lot of passion behind it. I really enjoy working as part of a team, and it’s great that the brand supports me just as much even when the results aren’t there, and celebrates with me when they are.”

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON GAZZETTA.IT]

Padel Mi Amor is the exclusive distributor of Royal Padel in Italy

Padelstyle, the company that owns the Padel Mi Amor brand—an Italian brand of padel apparel and accessories—has announced that it has signed a major three-year exclusive distribution agreement for the Spanish brand Royal Padel in Italy.

“We are truly happy and proud that Royal Padel has entrusted us with exclusive distribution rights in Italy,” says Paolo Fina, one of the founders of Padelstyle. “We’re confident that the partnership with our apparel brand, Padel Mi Amor, will create a winning combination that will generate significant synergies.”

Royal Padel was looking for a reliable partner that shared Padel Mi Amor’s goals of supporting and supplying prestigious retailers and clubs eager to invest in quality.

The two brands will therefore now join forces to try to increase their market share through a well-defined and effective strategy.

BRANDS
Royal Padel was founded in 1991 by Royal Padel Sportsystems, which decided to bring some of the first padel rackets to the Spanish market. The first collection of rackets dates back to that same year, though it has undergone changes over time, shifting from wood to rubber and other materials. Today, it is an iconic brand on the international stage of this sport, which has taken the world by storm.

Padel Mi Amor was founded in 2021 in Milan with the goal of spreading the joy of padel. A 100% Italian brand that creates garments featuring vibrant colors, comfortable fabrics, and refined details throughout its entire product line to ensure quality with every movement. The planning and design of each collection are carried out in collaboration with an Italian fashion designer who creates exclusive designs for each individual piece.

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON PADELBIZ.IT]

Paolo Fina and Padel Mi Amor: “A tribute to Spain, the country that made me fall in love with this sport”

The Milanese entrepreneur explains how the clothing line—which has now become the new go-to brand for padel players—came to be: “It’s an invitation to experience and express this sport in your own way, embracing your own uniqueness…”

Paolo Fina, an entrepreneur from Milan, tells us his story. A former entertainer on the Milanese nightlife scene, at age 52 he fell in love with padel and decided to live out and share his passion for the sport through Padel Mi Amor, a unique clothing line, designed and created together with his partner and business partner Alessandra, and now a new go-to brand for padel players in Italy and Spain.

Who is Paolo Fina?
“I’m someone who has always tried to have fun in life by letting my passion guide me, turning it into work, and sharing all of this with others. My greatest rewards have come from the satisfaction of my clients. I’m an observer; I like to study people, and I draw inspiration from their experiences so I can give them my very best. In my work, I’ve always sought new challenges and that adrenaline rush. I discovered Milan’s nightlife scene; I wanted to have fun and organize events that would leave people with something special. And I succeeded. Then I continued working in entertainment as a radio host, thanks to the network of contacts I’d built in Milan. And like any true Milanese, I’ve spent my vacations for the past 20 years in Formentera, the island I love.”

In 2013, something happened…
“Yes, that year I founded ‘Formentera Mi Amor,’ my real estate agency based on the island. ‘Mi amor’ is used in Latin cultures to describe a deep passion, a piece of one’s heart. Formentera was exactly that for me. So many people placed their trust in me, and I wanted to give my clients truly unique vacations. In 2014, I moved there permanently to run the business, and I stayed until 2019.”

Padel: love at first sight or a passion cultivated over time?
“It was love at first sight in 2017, at 52, right here in Formentera. I remember my first match; I wasn’t good at it, but I fell in love. It’s a sport that’s immediate, it excites you, there’s a great energy. It was amazing to be able to challenge myself at my age in a sport that was complete, that allowed me to express myself, that was fun and impactful. There was also a healthy level of competition within myself, and therefore a desire to continually improve. I played all summer, and my partner Alessandra joined me, who immediately shared my passion. So, when we returned to Italy, we decided we wanted to do something together for padel.”

From “Formentera Mi Amor” to “Padel Mi Amor”?
“Yes, the idea clicked during one of my events, organized for the first time in May 2018 in Formentera: the pro-am padel tournament—professionals versus amateurs—featuring Italy vs. Spain. For the 2019 edition, the absolute best Italian players and some of the best Spanish players from the Balearic Islands came. And for the occasion—which was a huge success—we designed the first T-shirt featuring my agency’s logo. That’s how Padel Mi Amor was born. A spark was ignited within me—confirmation of our true love for padel and the desire to express it through a new, innovative clothing line, which was then officially launched in 2021 with Alessandra, my life partner and business partner. The company is 100% Italian and based in Milan. Today, Padel Mi Amor is like our own child.”

What do the logo and tagline represent?
“The logo is a stylized ‘P’ with a ball at the end, and the tagline written below it, which encapsulates our philosophy. ‘Tu manera de vivir el padel’ is an invitation to experience and embrace this sport in your own way, in your own unique way.”

What makes the Padel Mi Amor line unique?
“We studied our competitors, and I personally interviewed padel players to understand what they needed, what was missing, and how they wanted to feel on the court. They wanted to wear something breathable that felt comfortable and lightweight—something beautiful and unique. And we strive to become an increasingly influential brand for them and one of the leading names in the industry. We’ve prioritized simplicity, with a focus on fabric quality, comfort, style, and color—minimal text that highlights only the logo and tagline. Our ongoing development is grounded in these core principles. We take great care in selecting suppliers who perfectly align with our vision. Since our founding, we’ve been selling online (CLICK HERE FOR INFO). The design and styling are handled by an Italian designer who creates our garments exclusively. We started with our iconic sweaters and then expanded our collection. For the upcoming season, we’ve decided to add a few more designs to our garments to express even more personality and further set us apart. Alessandra and I have divided the tasks: she manages production, and I handle all communication.

How do you promote Padel Mi Amor?
“We’ve chosen Emiliano Carchia as our brand ambassador—since 2022, he’s been one of the best-known influencers in the world of padel—but we also love the idea of outfitting amateur couples who play; that’s what we showcase at our exhibition booths. This year we’ve signed Simon Garforth-Bles, an Italian-British padel player ranked No. 22 nationally. This sport is also booming in the UK, and we’re right in the thick of it. We also have a web agency handling all our online activities.”

And in person?
“We organize two tournaments a year—one for women and one for men—where we offer our technical gear as prizes and host top-level players. In December 2022, we exhibited at the Milano Premier Padel P1 in front of 27,000 spectators. We were the only ones offering apparel for both men and women; we’re very pleased with the results and will do it again this year. And we’ll definitely be at the Rome leg of the Italy Major Premier Padel in July. Last January, also in Milan, we were present at the first edition of the Padel Trend Expo, and that’s where our first opportunity abroad came about. Andrea Balducci opened the doors for us in Spain.”

In the retail sector, are you currently present in Italy and Spain?
“Yes, we have a pro shop inside the Padelarium Gavà in Barcelona, the most famous and important indoor padel center in Catalonia, where Belasteguin and Marcela Ferrari train. This will be our first brick-and-mortar store and the start of our dream of taking the brand global. It’s important to have a presence in the country where padel has truly taken off. Soon we’ll be in two other centers, also in Spain.”

And in Italy?
“Starting March 1, we have some big news: we’ve launched our presence at the Padel Fun Store, the multi-brand store in Milan owned by Marta Sannito, the wife of Cabrini, a former soccer player.”

What are Padel Mi Amor’s future goals?
“In the short term, we want to work on building the brand’s credibility and offering customers more choices, including an accessories line. We’d like to be a one-stop brand for padel players.”

And in the long run, what are your dreams?
“It would be great to be able to grow alongside padel and help establish it on the international stage. The first step has been taken in Spain. It takes time, hard work, sacrifice, humility, and dedication. This will be our challenge, driven by passion—the driving force behind it all.”

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON GAZZETTA.IT]