Thousands of celebrities, community padel players, international padel stars and fans came together at the iconic Sydney Opera House last weekend to celebrate one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
The new premium global padel exhibition and cultural event, Padel Invitational presented by UBS, transformed the Sydney Opera House into a world-class sporting arena where a custom-built padel court rose on the Northern Broadwalk for a celebration of elite sport, entertainment, community and culture.
The weekend featured a star-studded celebrity showcase including Australian tennis legends Ash Barty and Pat Rafter, star of the hit television show Off Campus Josh Heuston, Gold Logie nominee Todd Woodbridge, internationally renowned supermodel Bambi Northwood-Blyth, ARIA-winning global pop star Ruel, 2026 Olympic gold medallist Cooper Woods, Viral comedy duo and internet sensations The Inspired Unemployed and Marvel Cinematic Universe actress Geraldine Viswanathan – among many others.
Celebrities went head-to-head in the Celebrity 1 Point Padel, where every match was decided by a single point, creating a fun, unpredictable event for fans.
Made in Bondi star Lachlan McLean and Premier Padel player Mar Munera claimed victory in the inaugural event.
“For the first time that they’ve done this, the crowd was amazing and the atmosphere was great,” Lachlan McLean said. “I was so nervous. It was such a surreal experience.”
“I think that this sport is so social and it can bring people together in so many fun ways. I’ve played it for a little while. I love it!”
Community padel took centre stage as players from across Australia travelled to Sydney for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the iconic court with Australian tennis legends Pat Rafter and Casey Dellacqua on hand to meet competitors and put them through their paces with a series of warm-up drills.
Community players won competitions to earn their place, while others had competed their way through local clubs or were nominated for their performances, coming together for a landmark day for the sport.
Padel has become a global phenomenon, played by more than 35 million people across more than 170 countries, with participation expected to exceed 105 million by 2030, according to the International Padel Federation (FIP).
Played as doubles – men, women and mixed – on an enclosed glass court, padel is a fun and highly social game combining the best elements of tennis and squash. The surrounding walls ensure the ball remains in play, creating long rallies, spectacular sharp angles and an exciting, fast-paced spectacle that is easy to enjoy and learn.
Set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, the event marked a milestone moment for padel in Australia, bringing together tennis legends, actors, Olympians, sporting personalities and international padel superstars.
While UBS headlined the event as Presenting Partner, a suite of premium global brands created unique experiences and activations across the weekend, demonstrating the increasingly powerful intersection of sport, culture, fashion, wellness and hospitality.
Waldorf Astoria: Through its new global Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club platform, Waldorf Astoria brought its distinctive hospitality and curated experiences to Sydney. The inaugural Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club experience offered guests front-row access to one of Australia’s most exciting new sporting events, alongside an early expression of the Waldorf Astoria experience ahead of the opening of Waldorf Astoria Sydney in 2027.
waterdrop®: The innovative hydration brand hosted a dedicated wellness morning on the Sydney Opera House padel court, designed to encourage more women to discover and experience the sport in an inspiring and accessible environment.
- Patrón Tequila: Served up a signature Paloma cocktail as Official Tequila Partner and hosting the vibrant “Padel Under Lights presented by Patrón” on Saturday night, featuring some of the world’s best players in action.
- Heineken®: Joined the Official Beer Partner, delivering one of the most iconic beer brands in the world to guests across the weekend.
HEAD: One of the world’s most recognised racquet sports brands joined as the Official Racquet & Ball partner.
La Roche-Posay: The Official Sunscreen Partner hosted a special run club experience, making the most of the spectacular harbourfront setting.
Pommery: Bringing a touch of French elegance to the Padel Invitational, Champagne Pommery featured as the event’s Official Champagne Partner. Poured throughout the event, Pommery complements the premium hospitality experience.
Philips: Delivered a premium grooming experience and activation for fans onsite, as the Official Shaver of the event.
META: Supported the event with content creators and social content amplification.
“Around the world, padel has evolved beyond a sport and become a lifestyle, bringing together fitness, entertainment, fashion, hospitality and community in a way few sports can,” Padel Australia chair Tom Larner said. “The calibre of the brands involved truly reflects padel’s emergence as a global cultural phenomenon.
“The Padel Invitational presented by UBS is about introducing Australians to an exciting, social and accessible sport while creating a world-class event experience that reflects everything padel represents internationally. There is no better stage than the Sydney Opera House to share that vision with the world,” Larner continued.
“To have UBS joined by partners such as Waldorf Astoria, Patrón, HEAD, Philips, waterdrop®, Heineken, La Roche-Posay, Pommery and META at the Sydney Opera House creates a truly unique platform to showcase the sport to new audiences,” Padel Invitational presented by UBS Executive Producer Nick Sloman said
