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Italy Premier Padel Major: Mahesh Bhupathi has long been synonymous with Indian tennis glory, putting the nation firmly on the global tennis map. Now, the 12-time Grand Slam doubles champion is lending his experience and vision to another racket sport that’s fast gaining traction - padel. With the World Padel League (WPL), Bhupathi believes the sport is on the cusp of a breakthrough.

"Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Over the last couple of years, there’s been exponential growth, with many tennis players taking it up as a secondary option. But I believe we’re still at ground zero, and there’s plenty of scope for growth," he told IANS.

For Bhupathi, bringing the WPL from Dubai to India is more than just a marquee event; it’s about accelerating this growth. “One of our main goals is to be part of that journey and help it move faster. We are also working closely with the Federation to organise other ancillary events around it. Hopefully, in 5–10 years, we will see just how far this sport can go.”