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Pacific Padel is proud to announce our very first sponsored player, Francisco Mendieta—a talented athlete with a deep passion for racket sports. With over 20 years of experience in tennis, including playing at the collegiate level in the USA and competing in professional tournaments, Francisco brings a wealth of skill and dedication to the padel court.
Having started playing padel just a year ago, Francisco has quickly set his sights on competing at a professional level both nationally and internationally. We are thrilled to support him on this journey and can’t wait to see his impact on the growing padel scene in New Zealand and beyond.
How did you get into padel and how did you hear about it?
I first played padel in Miami while I was working at a tennis academy, and fell in love with the sport instantly. When they announced here in NZ that courts were going to open I had to go and play as much as possible.
What do you love about padel? Compared to tennis?
I love both sports, each are very challenging in their own ways. With padel I like the amount of variation there is, you have to be quite creative to win points.
Do you have a favourite pro player?
Yes I have two actually. Alejandro Galan and Agustin Tapia Both play on the left but are very different players. Galan is very explosive and solid, while Tapia has a lot of magic and flair.
What are your current tournament plans?
At the moment I am looking to play tournaments in Sydney in order to compete on the Australian tour. Any tournaments that New Zealand opens up I will be the first to sign up (very soon I hope). With a couple of other players we are looking at other possibilities like competing in Asia or some of the islands.
What are your goals for padel in New Zealand and beyond?
I would definitely like to be one of the top players in the country, play some professional tournaments, and get in the rankings. It will be a long journey but I am very excited.
What is your favourite shot?
I will say it’s the vibora, I really enjoy to put that curve into the smash, making it hard to return for the opponent.