WAYNE BOICH INCREASES THE POPULARITY OF THE FLOURISHING RACKET SPORT PADEL BY BRINGING THE WORLD PADEL TOUR KICKOFF TO MIAMI.

The World Padel Tour makes its newest stop in Miami with the introduction of the Miami Padel Open. PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD PADEL TOUR

Miami-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Wayne Boich is a lover of sports and the act of coming together for a game. Consistently contributing to the city’s dynamics and culture, Boich Investment Group has supported various causes throughout Miami, from charities to sports teams and beyond. Now, he’s sharing his love and passion for the padel, a sport that is dominant in Spain and the fastest-growing sport in the world. As a longtime player, he has teamed up with World Padel Tour to deliver the first Miami Padel Open, consisting of the top male and female players in the world. Here, we chat with Boich on his love for the game and what we can expect from the upcoming tournament. 888 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, @wptmiamipadelopen

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD PADEL TOUR

How have you witnessed the padel sport take off in Miami over the last few years?

When I was first introduced to padel nine, 10 years ago, we were a very small group that would play. The growth was incremental—each year, you would see more and more people playing, and courts started to pop up all over the city both for public use and in private homes. Today, if you go to a place like Wynwood Padel Club, you’ll find that there’s a wait for courts, whereas that was never previously the case. I know many people are seeing it as a great new alternative to tennis or golf, and it appeals to all ages from young kids to people in their later years.

How will bringing this tournament to Miami enhance the already-blossoming padel scene?

There’s always something powerful about experiencing a sport in the competitive environment of a proper tournament with internationally recognized, professional athletes. We will have the best players in the world in attendance, and a lot of people who are starting to play the sport have never seen these players live.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD PADEL TOUR

As a longtime player, what do you love most about padel?

With tennis being a big part of my life growing up, I really connected with the similarities between the sports when I was introduced to padel. It’s fun, competitive and combines the best of all racket sports in a uniquely social way.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD PADEL TOUR

What can guests look forward to at the tournament?

Similar to other such events as the Miami Open, this tournament will be an interactive and entertaining experience for those in attendance. The Miami Padel Open will incorporate great food, first-class entertainment, a celebrity match and more to help elevate the overall experience. The state-of-the-art facility is being built at Island Gardens with Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline as the perfect backdrop for the event, which will feature the top male and female padel players from around the globe.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD PADEL TOUR

From your view, what does the future of padel look like in the U.S.?

The sky is the limit. The immense and intense interest shown in just the last year and a half is an indicator of what’s to come. I think padel will grow as fast as people can build courts.