Boxing champion Anthony Joshua joins tennis legend Andy Murray as co-owner of Hexagon Cup’s Team AD/vantage, just weeks before the padel team defends its title in Madrid. This star-studded British ownership group signals padel’s surging popularity, with the UK now boasting 600 courts and over 5,000 daily playing hours. As Joshua steps into the fast-growing world of professional padel, Team AD/vantage prepares to face off against other celebrity-owned teams in this thrilling second edition of the Hexagon Cup.
In a significant development for the burgeoning world of professional padel, two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has joined forces with tennis legend Andy Murray as co-owner of Team AD/vantage. This strategic move, announced on January 13, 2025, comes just weeks before the team defends its title in the second edition of the Hexagon Cup, scheduled for January 29 to February 2 in Madrid.
Joshua’s involvement adds another layer of star power to the already impressive ownership team, which includes tennis legend Andy Murray, former coach Dani Vallverdú, and businessman Arran Yentob. This British-led consortium now stands at the forefront of professional padel, a sport that has seen explosive growth in the UK, with over 5,000 hours played daily across 600 courts nationwide.
The Hexagon Cup, entering its second year, has quickly established itself as the premier event in professional padel. The competition features eight teams, each owned by global celebrities or sports stars, including Eva Longoria, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Agüero, Leo Messi, and Robert Lewandowski. Team AD/vantage’s lineup for the upcoming tournament includes padel stars Martín di Nenno, Juan Tello, Delfi Brea, and Sofia Araujo, alongside next-gen talents Martina Calvo and Marta Borrero.
Joshua’s decision to join Team AD/vantage reflects the growing appeal of padel as both a sport and a business opportunity. “The growth of Padel as an international sport has been really impressive and interesting to watch,” Joshua stated, expressing his enthusiasm for supporting the team in their title defense and future development.
Andy Murray welcomed Joshua’s involvement, calling it “a huge win for us” that will provide momentum as they prepare for the upcoming tournament. Arran Yentob emphasized Joshua’s potential contribution, stating, “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Anthony Joshua into the ownership group of Team AD/vantage. He embodies the qualities we value so highly as a team. His experience can help us build on our recent success on the professional side, and together with Andy, Dani and the rest of team AD/Vantage, to further unlock the sport’s potential and bring a new set of players to the court.”
As padel continues its upward trajectory, particularly in the UK, the involvement of high-profile athletes like Joshua and Murray in team ownership signals a new phase in the sport’s professionalization. Their combined star power and business acumen could play a crucial role in elevating padel’s status on the global sports stage, potentially attracting more investment, media attention, and new fans to this fast-growing sport.
