USPA’s Jose De Armas targets success at international competitions for US padel

Jose De Armas, who began his two-year term as a United States Padel Association (USPA) board member in January, has said the organisation is aiming to elevate padel play in the US in the coming years and eventually challenge top padel countries in international competitions.

De Armas is vice chairperson of the USPA’s Competition Committee and its newly formed Elite Athlete Council. He brings a depth of experience in padel and sports in general. He was a professional tennis player and ATP coach before he became enamoured with padel three years ago. 

De Armas represented the US National Team at International Padel Federation (FIP) World Championships twice last year: as a player for the FIP Seniors World Padel Championships in Alicante, Spain, and as an assistant coach for the FIP World Padel Championships in Doha, Qatar. Through this experience, De Armas gained confidence in how US padel is developing.

“We proved at the World Championships last year that we have a lot of youngsters who are willing to play and give it a go”, De Armas told Padel Business Magazine. 

“We're looking to find these talents and give them the right tools so they can develop, and we can be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.” 

The USPA Competition Committee organises events including the USPA’s NOX Circuit, which serves as the lynchpin for harnessing the massive potential the US has internationally in padel. 

De Armas believes that as new padel clubs join the circuit, hosting events and attracting new players, the NOX Circuit will accelerate opportunities for clubs and players to grow. 

“The tournaments hopefully are gonna get bigger”, he said. “We should have 30-40 events in the calendar within the next 24 months. I think the sky's the limit.” 

De Armas will also play a crucial role in the USPA’s new Elite Athlete Council, which is dedicated to nurturing top talent and synchronising communication between coaches and the USPA. He believes the council will help efficiently identify great players in any age group who could represent the US in international play. 

As for the future of padel in the US, De Armas thinks the country is in a prime position to compete at the highest level thanks to its growth potential and resources. 

“If there's a country that can develop tons of players quickly, it's gonna be the US”, he said. 

“With the opportunity now that we have, clubs opening around the country, basically on a weekly or monthly basis, it's gonna give us the opportunity to develop our talent much quicker.” 

He added: “The idea is that we can be as competitive as we can in the next two to four years. We obviously understand Argentina and Spain are quite a few years ahead of every other country that plays this game. But if there's one country that's gonna have the talent and the means and the will to give them a run for their money, I think it's gonna be the US.”

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