Padel is taking the world by storm, and in Dubai, its rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. Among the passionate individuals shaping the sport’s future is Louis Marcel, a former tennis coach from Belgium who found his calling in padel. His journey—from discovering the sport on a hotel court to coaching high-net-worth individuals in St. Tropez and finally settling in Dubai—exemplifies both determination and adaptability.
Marcel’s path wasn’t just about becoming a coach; it was about building a lifestyle around padel. Through his freelance coaching, his involvement in Ace One, and his upcoming online academy, Padelacademie, he has carved a niche in Dubai’s dynamic padel scene. His experience highlights the challenges and rewards of freelancing in a city where padel clubs are opening at an unprecedented rate, attracting players from diverse backgrounds.
In this exclusive feature, Marcel shares his insights on Dubai’s padel boom, his entrepreneurial ventures, and essential advice for aspiring players. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned competitor, his story offers valuable takeaways on growth, strategy, and the power of following one’s passion.
Can you share your journey into padel and what led you to become a coach in Dubai?
I was a tennis coach in Belgium while pursuing my physiotherapy studies, and right after COVID, I met someone who suggested I try padel. I gave it a shot on a hotel court and instantly fell in love with the sport. I bought my first racket and started playing more and more, gradually balancing it with tennis. Over time, I felt a growing desire to fully transition to padel. It was an intense period—I was playing 2 to 3 games a day and decided to earn my padel coaching certificate.
Eventually, one of the players I played with had a tennis complex where I was already working and when he added padel courts, like most clubs are doing now, he offered me the opportunity to coach there. That’s how my padel coaching journey began.
Alongside my studies and part-time jobs, I explored online business opportunities to generate extra income. Through this, I connected with many people and explored various business ideas. Eventually, I met two incredible mentors, Rudy and Anthony (now my partners in my upcoming online padel academy, Padelacademie ). They introduced me to another mentor, Thibaut, who was based in Dubai at the time. After several discussions, and seeing my dedication to padel, Thibaut invited me to come to Dubai to coach and explore the market. This was in February 2024.
I spent a few months in Dubai, building my network and coaching as much as possible, even for free to build a client base. It was not the easiet but very rewarding. It was my first step into the UAE. Afterward, I returned to Belgium to complete my studies, spent the summer coaching high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in their private villas in St. Tropez, France, and finally moved back to Dubai in October to settle permanently.
How would you describe the growth of padel in Dubai, and what makes the city an exciting place for the sport?
The growth of padel in Dubai is nothing short of extraordinary.Dubai is a great destination for padel players and enthusiasts. The mix of international and local communities creates a steady influx of new players every day. Many people here also run digital businesses, which allows them the flexibility to play regularly.Clubs here are opening everyday showing its huge interest for the sport. For instance, there are over 40 padel clubs just in the Al Quoz area alone.
The diversity of people in the UAE, combined with the presence of world-class coaches employed in clubs, makes Dubai a hotspot for padel lovers. It’s also a city that thrives on lifestyle and trends, making it the perfect environment for the sport to flourish.
What are the biggest challenges and rewards of being a freelance padel coach?
As a freelance padel coach, I’ve faced a few challenges like every entrepreneur. The first is finding new clients and ensuring my impact is strong enough to keep them long-term. The quality of my coaching has to be top-tier because word-of-mouth is my primary source of new clients along with my instagram page, @monsieur.marcel__.
Another challenge is the fluctuating workload, some periods are incredibly busy, while others are slower. Additionally, while there are many padel clubs in Dubai, not all of them accept freelance coaches, as they often have their own in-house coaching staff. When I started, I had to reach out to dozens of clubs before finding a few that welcomed freelancers.
The rewards, however, are immense. The flexibility and freedom to decide where and when I coach are priceless. I’ve also built deeper connections with my coachees. I take the time to discuss their progress, record training videos, and chat with them, offering a more personalized and premium experience. I also can coach in the private residences here, and travel abroad for events and bootcamps.
Every day, I go to my coaching sessions with joyful spirit, far more than I would if I were working a traditional 9-to-5 job in my opinion. I can tailor my work the way I like it. Freelancing allows me to do what I love while also dedicating time to my parallel projects, like Ace One and Padelacademie.
As Sport Director at Ace One, what is your vision for the brand, and how do you see it impacting the padel industry?
Speaking of Ace One, as the Sport Director of the brand alongside my two partners, Léo and Guillian, our vision is to create an ecosystem around a brand that stands out with its aesthetic design, premium quality, and accessible pricing.
We started with one model (available in three colors) to keep things simple and ensure players wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. Our primary goal also was to build a network of coaches and players who could serve as ambassadors, educating others on racket selection.
Today, we’re present in over a dozen countries, including Florida, Saudi Arabia, and Belgium. We’re also thrilled to announce that a clothing line is launching in March. It’s something we’ve worked hard on, with neutral, elegant colors that align with the brand’s aesthetic while maintaining high-quality performance.
Our long-term vision is to establish Ace One as the go-to brand for premium, stylish and efficient padel products, while developing a community of passionates thanks to our marketing strategy. From there, we plan to expand into merchandise and more. Padel is growing rapidly, and we’re confident that niche brands like ours can thrive and make an impact by offering something unique and high-quality.
What advice would you give to aspiring padel players looking to improve their game?
The best advice I can give to players looking to improve their game is to avoid spending too much time on social games. These can lead to bad habits that are harder to unlearn than starting fresh. Instead, invest in coaching, play matches with stronger players, don’t be afraid and participate in tournaments that match your skill level.
By identifying your weaknesses and working on them, you’ll build confidence and refine the details that make all the difference in your game. Pro-Tip: recording yourself is a great way to look at your posture, technique and correct what needs to be changed.
For the French community, I invite you to join the waiting list for padelacademie.fr , it’s a great way to take your game to the next level.
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