The Stingrays, who are one of the original seven franchise teams for America’s newest professional sports league, have bolstered their ranks with the signing of former World No. 1 Sanchez
Signing of Sanchez’s fellow Argentinean and former World Number 2 Miguel Lamperti will be seen as a sign of intent for the California side ahead of Season 2
Thursday October 5th San Diego, USA: The San Diego Stingrays, who made history by competing as one of the original seven franchise teams in the inaugural Pro Padel League (PPL) in Tampa, Florida earlier this year, have announced the double-signing of Argentinean World Padel Tour stars, Maxi Sanchez and Miguel Lamperti.
The Stingrays finished in fifth position in their debut season in the PPL, however with the impactful signing of Sanchez and Lamperti, two of the biggest names in world padel of the last two decades, will be aiming to advance in season two and compete for the title of America’s newest professional sports league as the number of teams grows to 12.
Maxi Sanchez, who hails from Villa Mercedes, Argentina, today sits at Number 19 in the World Padel Tour rankings and has reached eight quarter-final berths and one semi-final so far in 2023, which marks his 18th season as a professional padel player. Throughout his career, he has achieved 22 World Padel Tour tournament victories, reached one semi-final and three quarter-finals on the Premier Padel tour, and, for his country Argentina, won the World Championship in 2014, 2016 and 2022.
His compatriot, Lamperti, held a World Top 10 ranking from 2007 until 2019, which included a career-high ranking of World Number 2 in 2009. In 2016, he also became World Champion with the Argentina national team. His announcement will be viewed as another impact signing by the Southern California team.
New San Diego Stingrays signing, Maxi Sanchez said: “I am excited to be entering this next chapter of my career by signing for the San Diego Stingrays. I am someone that has always relished a challenge, and also been passionate about the growth of our beloved sport. To see padel start to make its move in the United States feels like a milestone for our sport, and for me the chance to compete for a city that craves its sport and entertainment as much as San Diego was an opportunity too good to miss. I can’t wait to get on court and help the Stingrays compete for the PPL title in 2024.”
Sanchez’s compatriot and World Number 40 Miguel Lamperti said: “From the moment, I heard about the PPL, I knew this was a competition that was going to grow and grow and, from the moment I met with Armando, Gabriel, Ryan and the team, and learnt of their passion to develop the sport and grow a passionate fanbase for the Stingrays, I could see that San Diego was the perfect team in which to launch my PPL career. For me, this is about seeing San Diego compete for the highest prize, but it’s also about engaging a community in California around our exhilarating sport at a time when padel is beginning its American journey.”
Ryan Redondo, Co-Owner of the San Diego Stingrays, said: “When we realized we had the opportunity to sign two players of Maxi and Miguel’s stature, it was an opportunity too good to ignore. Their tour records over long careers speak for themselves and, we believe, will make the Stingrays serious contenders for the Pro Padel League trophy.”
Gabriel Perez Krieb, Co-Owner of the San Diego Stingrays, said: “Maxi and Miguel are two giants of the game and will help take the Stingrays to the next level performance-wise when we reach season two of the PPL. However, there’s a bigger picture here and that’s the opportunity for the Stingrays to
work with Maxi and Miguel to help excite a huge untapped fanbase in Southern California that we believe will start to adopt padel as their new favorite sport. We’re excited to work with these two padel legends in the years ahead.”
Armando Rodiel, Co-Owner and Team Coach of the San Diego Stingrays, said: “Today’s announcement is a true sign of our ambition to compete at the highest level. Maxi and Miguel are two giants of Argentinean and global padel, and for the Stingrays to recruit them is a real coup and will act as an inspiration for our young, hungry and improving team. We are excited to welcome them onto the court.”
Season Two of the PPL takes place from April to May, and September to October 2024.