Italian tennis star Sara Errani, known for her success on the court, is getting closer to making a significant career shift. The Paris 2024 Olympic doubles champion, alongside Jasmine Paolini, has expressed her desire to fully commit to professional padel once she wraps up her tennis career.

During her visit to the Miami Beach Convention Center, where the Miami Premier Padel P1 was taking place, Errani closely followed the matches as players battled for a spot in the round of 16. But she wasn’t just a spectator—she analyzed the games with the mindset of someone who has already competed in this sport and is seriously considering making it her new profession.

A Path Already Taken in Padel

Errani’s interest in padel is not new. She has been playing for years, especially in Spain, where she has trained in tennis for two decades. Her passion for the sport has led her to participate in official tournaments, such as the CUPRA FIP Tour, where she has competed twice this year—once in Melbourne, partnering with Tathiana Garbin, and another in Dubai, alongside rising Italian padel talent Caterina Baldi.

This isn’t her first venture into professional padel. Over a decade ago, she took part in the World Padel Tour, teaming up with Anabel Medina. Now, with more experience and maturity, her interest in the sport has become more serious.

A Natural Transition

Errani has integrated padel into her training routine for years. “When I’m in Valencia, I play almost every day. And when I travel for tennis tournaments, I always look for a court to practice,” she revealed. Her passion runs so deep that even in Indian Wells, she managed to find a hidden spot to play.

Although she doesn’t yet have a fixed partner or ranking goals, the former world No. 5 in tennis made it clear that her future lies in padel. “I do it for fun, but I feel that when I stop playing tennis, I want to dedicate myself to this full-time,” she admitted.

The prospect of seeing Sara Errani competing in top-level padel tournaments is becoming increasingly real. Her love for the sport, combined with her tennis expertise, makes her a strong candidate for success on the glass courts. Will she be able to replicate her achievements in this new challenge? Time will tell.