First matches at Allianz Cloud, first vips at Milan Premier Padel. To follow the afternoon matches of the opening day of the last stage of the 2023 Premier Padel circuit, three people who know how to use a racket and have done so in their careers. And it matters little if their rackets have strings and are not padel rackets: Fabio Fognini, Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone would also look good between the glasses, as would former footballer Rodrigo Palacio, who was also ‘caught’ in the stands of the Milanese arena that has now opened its doors to the padel stars.
Fognini, on the same day on which Sinner, Arnaldi, Sonego, Musetti and Bolelli lifted the Davis Cup – something not seen in Italy for 47 years –, won a Challenger in Valencia, to the delight also of Flavia Pennetta, his wife and winner of the 2015 US Open in an all-Italian final against Roberta Vinci, who had already taken up padel some time ago. And Francesca Schiavone has also won a Slam during her career. In 2010, she triumphed on the clay of Paris, at Roland Garros, which has also hosted a stage of the Premier Padel circuit in the last two years.
