I was born and raised in Argentina, where I grew up playing tennis. I later attended the University of Houston and competed in college tennis.

My introduction to padel came in December 1992 during a visit to Argentina. I quickly realized this was a game that racquet sports enthusiasts in the United States would embrace, and I became committed to helping introduce and develop the sport in Houston, Texas.

Early History Highlights

1993 – Represented USA with partner Ed Thompson in the inaugural Primera Copa Corcuera international tournament hosted by the Hotel Villa Vera in Acapulco and organized by FEMEPA (Federación Mexicana de Pádel).

1993 – Met Enrique Corcuera, the founder of padel, during the Tri-National Tournament (Mexico–USA–Canada) held in Acapulco and hosted by FEMEPA.

1994 – Represented USA with partner Brian Poynter at the Tri-National Tournament (Mexico–USA–Canada) at The Houstonian Hotel & Spa in Texas, hosted by the American Padel Association — a direct predecessor of what is known today as the United States Padel Association.

1994 – Alongside business partner Ed Thompson, helped build the first padel courts in the U.S at The Houstonian Club & Spa in Texas.

1994 – USA sent its first National Padel team to the World Padel Championships in Argentina.

Acknowledgments

Ed Thompson — Business partner from the beginning in introducing Padel to Houston and co-founder of the American Padel Association as a governing body to promote the sport. Through his dedication, enthusiasm and expertise, the early development of Padel in the U.S. became a success.

1993 U.S. Team Delegation – Acapulco Tri-National
Thank you to the players who represented the USA and helped promote padel in those early days: Mike May, Brian Poynter, Matt Berry, Scott Flippin Read, Ross Persons, and Peter Farrell. Special thanks to Brian Poynter for sponsoring all team apparel.

Oscar “Cacho” Nicastro — Co-founder (1988) of the Argentine Padel Association and a pioneer in promoting the sport throughout Latin America. Thank you for your support from the very beginning and for introducing us in 1993 to Ignacio Soto Borja, president of the Mexican Padel Federation and Bill Stamile, president of the Canada Padel Federation with whom we organized both Tri-National events in Acapulco 1993 and Houston 1994 held at the Houstonian Hotel and Spa.