At the Allianz Cloud, while the matches of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1 thrill the crowd, another show is taking place in the stands: kids chasing the autographs of their idols. The real star is the big yellow “pallona” – an XXL version made just for the event – always paired with the classic black marker. Two must-have items for young collectors of memories.
Parking lots, entrances, behind the benches: before and after every match, the ritual begins.
“Did you see? Coello and Rapia just passed!”, “There’s Galán!”, “Photo please, an autograph!” – shouts of excitement mix with wide-eyed smiles and laughter. Phone in hand, ball under the arm, and the hope of getting a black, indelible mark – one that will stay at home among their sweetest memories. Giovanni, 10 years old, is proud of his collection: “Thanks to my dad and the security staff, I got autographs from Bea González, Chingotto and Gemma Triay,” he says with a big smile, showing a ball full of signatures where you can hardly see any yellow left.
For Andrea, 11, this is his third year in a row: “In 2022 I couldn’t come, but now I don’t miss a single match. The most special autograph? Belasteguín’s, on the day of his last game.” And between one smile and another, there’s room for dreams too: “Maybe in a few years, I’ll be the one signing it.” Strong emotions are felt even courtside. Carlotta, 13, can’t hide hers: “Delfi Brea smiled at me and gave me a towel – I’ll never forget it.” At the Allianz Cloud, you can feel a real love for padel – not just for the game, but for all the moments that stay in fans’ hearts and minds. Autographs, selfies, and a few stolen rallies with their idols. The world’s top padel players are the stars, of course, but not the only ones: The Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1 once again proved to be a true celebration of sport, where dreams don’t end on the court – they continue with a ball, a marker, and a smile.