Rafa Vega and Sam MacNeil return to the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic for a second successive year
In an exciting announcement, TTB Sport can confirm that renowned padel players Rafa Vega and Sam Macneil will play in May’s Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic for the second year running. The prestigious tournament will take place at The Hurlingham Club, promising yet another exciting showcase of world-class padel action.
Both players return to the celebrity pro-am tournament on 14-15 May are set to raise the stakes for this year’s competition.
Vega started playing padel at 15, and is the current LTA No.1, first reaching the top spot in 2023. He said: "I’m thrilled to be back for the second year running at such a prestigious event. The atmosphere at the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic last year was incredible on and off the court, and I'm looking forward to another great tournament."
Macneil, who led Scotland to victory in the recent Four Nations Tournament and is currently ranked 6th on the LTA Rankings, echoed his teammate’s sentiments, adding: "Playing in such a high-profile event is always a privilege, and The Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic is a fantastic event. I was lucky to be partnered with Sam Billings last year in the Pro-Celebrity event. Sam plays unbelievable padel, so we managed to win the title. I’m hoping for a repeat this year.”
Vega and Macneil join fellow UK-based players Louie Harris and Alfonso Patacho in the men’s event, while leading British player Aimee Gibson will lead our female field. The stellar list of padel pros has been expanded this year to include Miguel Lamperti. Widely regarded as one of the most charismatic and iconic faces on the World Padel Tour, Lamperti is a former World Champion whose passion for the game sees him still travelling the globe to compete at the age of 46. The Argentine legend, known for his remarkable skill and ability to bring fans to their feet, becomes one of the first World Class players to play in front of British fans on home soil.
The Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic is co-founded by investment, advisory and marketing group TTB Sport alongside Charlie Grave and both Vega and Macneil are delighted to take part in an event around which fundraising is a key component with all money raised this year benefitting the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation including support for The Hurlingham Club Foundation’s girls' racquets project, Empower.
The partnership between TTB Sport and Laureus Sport for Good reflects a shared commitment to harnessing the power of sport as a tool for social change. Last year, Laureus Sport for Good enabled more than 100,000 girls around the world to enjoy the benefits of sport and trained more than 4,000 female coaches to support them. Through this initiative, the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic aims to provide support to The Hurlingham Club Foundation's vision of creating a thriving and connected community.