Emily takes to the court 32 years after her mother Vanesa’s World Cup: “I met a little boy called Belasteguin, I missed out on meeting Maradona, my daughter and I share the same passion and, who knows, perhaps Brisbane 2032…”

JAKARTA – Thirty-two years ago, in 1994, a young Vanesa Gonzalez was on court. It was a different world and a different kind of padel, and Buenos Aires was hosting the Encuentro Internacional de Menores, which would become the World Cup Junior years later. Vanesa, an outstanding talent with a love for the sport that continued to grow, was playing in the Spanish colours. She felt immense pride, her eyes reflecting a dream come true, and had just one regret: “Yes, I still think about it today. I should have shaken Maradona’s hand and spoken to him, but I never managed to meet him…”. Thirty-two years later, in 2026, it is Emily Hooper, aged 13, who is on court, competing in the FIP Junior Asia Padel Cup in the colours of Australia. The world has changed. Padel is no longer a distant pursuit enjoyed by only a few, but a global sport with an international governing structure, encompassing everyone from amateur players to professionals, as well as the younger generations.

 

So, what is the connection? Quite simply, Vanesa is Emily’s mother, and the headline almost writes itself: padel from mother to daughter. Vanesa’s husband is Australian, and Australia is where Emily was born and where the Hooper family lives. “Seeing her on court, just as I was more than 30 years ago, fills my heart with emotion,” says Vanesa, speaking with evident pride. “As soon as I saw the courts here in Jakarta, I was overwhelmed by memories of my experiences in Argentina. It is difficult to find the words to describe how I feel. When I watch her play, it is as if I am seeing myself all over again. I am incredibly proud of her. Being able to share this passion with my daughter is something truly special.”

 

Vanesa moved to Australia after completing her university studies, where she introduced the sport of padel before later starting a family: “It is truly incredible to look back on those moments! Both my sister and I had been selected to represent Spain, and that team included a certain Iciar Montes… We had fallen in love with padel at the age of 12, after moving from the Canary Islands to Madrid. There were many South American countries competing in that tournament. In Spain, padel was still in its early stages, whereas it was already a very popular sport there. I also remember meeting a young boy at that edition who would go on to become a true legend: Fernando Belasteguín.” There is just one regret from that tournament that she has never quite been able to overcome: “Diego Armando Maradona also came to the courts! Unfortunately, though, I never got to meet him. I had been invited, but in the end I missed my chance. I still regret it to this day.”

 

At the age of 18, Vanesa chose to pursue university studies rather than embark on a professional playing career. “After completing my PhD in Soil Science, I thought about putting my academic background to use by gaining experience abroad,” explains Vanesa. “There was a research group in Perth working on subjects closely related to my own. That is why I decided to move there. I fell in love with Perth from the very first moment. I consider it the most beautiful city in the world. I am happy with my decision.” However, the pull of padel remained strong. “When I arrived in Australia, around 20 years ago, I was on my own. My sister joined me later. We missed playing with a padel racket enormously because, at the time, there were virtually no courts in Australia. One day, she asked me: ‘Why don’t we open a club?’. After several difficult years and a great deal of hard work, we managed to bring our project to life by opening the first padel club in Western Australia. My daughter grew up following this wonderful padel journey. She was there to witness the club’s beginnings. In a way, it was as if she were reliving my own experience in Spain.” Speaking about her daughter Emily’s passion for the sport, Vanesa adds: “There was no particular moment when she fell in love with padel. She would come home from school, go on court and start hitting the ball. She has always been surrounded by the sport, which naturally became part of her everyday life. She has told me several times that she wants to become world number one.”

 

Vanesa has also played a role in the growth of padel in Australia. “It is a sport that is growing rapidly. Our club will celebrate its seventh anniversary next February.” In 2026, padel reached important milestones on its path towards Olympic recognition: from its inclusion in the Mediterranean Games in Taranto and the South American Games in Santa Fe to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. In 2032, the Olympic Games will take place in Australia, in Brisbane. “Padel’s inclusion would be an extraordinary opportunity to introduce the sport to an even wider audience and raise the profile of the Australian padel community. The aim is to make sure that everyone knows what padel is and has the opportunity to try it.” Asked whether her daughter might one day represent Australia at the Olympic Games, Vanesa replies, her eyes shining: “That would truly be a dream come true.”