As a fast-growing global racquet sport, padel has seen tremendous success in recent years. WME Sports has recognized this potential and is now introducing talent representation and brand consulting services for the sport. The first signee for the division is Arturo Coello, the No. 1 ranked player in the World Padel Tour at just 21 years old. He will continue to be managed by Miguel Sánchez.
Coello expressed excitement about joining WME Sports, stating that he was impressed by the agency’s reputation for representing some of the most successful athletes worldwide and would help him elevate his brand.
The padel group at WME Sports will be led by directors Hernan Auguste and Daniel Dios. Auguste, who has held various roles in the industry, including international manager of the WPT, chief padel officer at LeDap Group, and head of international relations at MejorSet Padel Courts, brings extensive experience to the role. Dios, who has worked with LeDap and Notrick Planner and served as CEO of Padel Trainer, will also co-lead the division.
Both Auguste and Dios will report to IMG’s Senior Vice President and Head of Tennis Clients, Max Eisenbud. WME Sports will strategically collaborate with IMG’s tennis division to enhance its offerings in the padel space. This collaboration includes leveraging IMG’s expertise in representing top tennis players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek through its tennis division to provide a comprehensive offering for clients in both sports.
Overall, this move by WME Sports highlights their commitment to expanding their reach into new markets while continuing to provide top-notch service to their clients across all sports industries.