- Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero joined the Hexagon Cup with a seventh team
- The inaugural Hexagon Cup in Madrid earlier this year proved to be a big hit
- The new outfit becomes the eighth franchise ahead of this year’s second edition
A Formula One star has become the latest big name to enter the world of padel, after joining the Hexagon Cup with their own team.
Padel is one of the fastest growing rackets sports in the world, with approximately 25million active players around the world.
Since securing the backing of DMG Ventures, the inaugural Hexagon Cup successfully lured the very best international padel players to compete in six teams.
Moreover, some of sport’s biggest names have begun to enter the competition as team owners, with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero the latest to do so with the Kru Padel team.
Now, though, the latest global superstars to get behind padel are Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and Ligue 1 side Lorient president Loic Fery, with their 10Padel team entering the fray for the second edition of the competition.
Pierre Gasly has joined padel as the owner of the eighth franchise competing at the Hexagon Cup
Lorient president Loic Fery will partner up with the Alpine driver – with whom he played padel after the Miami GP
The first edition of the tournament took place in Madrid earlier this year and proved to be a hit
‘I’m thrilled and excited to take this first step into the padel world by creating our professional team, 10Padel,’ said Gasly, on the announcement of the move.
‘I love this sport, which shares the same competitive spirit and passion that drives me on the Formula 1 circuits. Together with Loïc, we see a unique opportunity to build a team that stands out both on and off the court. I hope many of you will support us in the next 2025 edition!’
Fery added: ‘Pierre and I played padel together after the Miami Grand Prix with Dani Homedes who co-owns another Hexagon team and another friend of ours also involved in 10Padel.
‘Since then, we have both nurtured the desire to partner with ambition in the padel world and we finally agreed to become the owners of the 8th franchise of Hexagon Cup. That is how 10Padel was born.
‘I am very excited to join Pierre in such an inspiring and promising competition, where we will combine our experience and competitive spirit to ensure 10Padel success and bring padel fans together.’
The Hexagon Cup is a revolutionary padel tournament backed by high-profile sports heroes including Rafael Nadal, Robert Lewandowski and Andy Murray.
Launched with the strapline, ‘For the fans, for the players, for the game’, the Hexagon Cup has eagerly placed spectators at the forefront of their planning, with live music, entertainers and padel experiences accompanying the sporting action.
Earlier this year, Martin Di Nenno and Juan Tello of Murray’s AD/vantage Team, became the inaugural men’s winners, while it was a senior sweep for the three-time Grand Slam winner as his roster – which included Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo – secured the women’s title.
Andy Murray’s AD/vantage team claimed the men’s and women’s titles during the first competition
Several high-profile stars, including Eva Longoria (pictured) had teams competing in the inaugural tournament
Lewandowski also got in on the action, with his team of David Gala and Enzo Jensen prevailing in the Next Gen category.
Enrique Buenaventura, Founder of Hexagon Cup, said of the new team’s entry: ‘Incorporating Pierre and Loic into the project opens up a vast array of opportunities.
‘Our primary objectives have always been to promote the sport of padel and bring it closer to new audiences and territories, such as France, where padel is establishing itself as one of the most widely played sports. It was essential for us to have a team owned by two French personalities in the championship.’
He added: ‘Furthermore, having someone from the automotive world, with whom I have practically developed my entire career and with whom I feel very connected, gives me particular excitement. I am delighted.’