Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight boxing champion, has expanded his interests beyond the ring by becoming a co-owner of Andy Murray’s padel team, Team AD/vantage.
This move comes as the team prepares to defend their titles in the Hexagon Cup, set to take place in Madrid from January 31 to February 2.
Team AD/vantage made history last year, winning the inaugural Hexagon Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories. Co-owned by Murray, tennis coach Daniel Vallverdu, and businessman Arran Yentob, the team is now bolstered by Joshua’s involvement as they look to repeat their success in a tournament boasting a prize pool of 840,000 pounds.
A growing sport with big names
The Hexagon Cup has drawn attention for its star-studded ownership, with Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero’s KRU Esports launching a new team, KRU Padel. Other prominent figures such as Rafael Nadal, Robert Lewandowski, and Pierre Gasly also own competing teams, reflecting the rising appeal of padel-an exciting blend of tennis and squash.
Since securing backing from DMG Ventures, the Hexagon Cup has attracted top international talent and offered a fan-centric experience. Its tagline, “For the fans, for the players, for the game,” is evident in its mix of live entertainment, interactive padel sessions, and competitive action.
Joshua expressed his enthusiasm for joining Team AD/vantage.
“The growth of padel as an international sport has been really impressive and interesting to watch. Joining Andy and the ownership team was an opportunity I had to take. I look forward to supporting the team as they defend their Hexagon Cup title and continue to grow and develop,” Joshua declared in a statement.
Murray, currently coaching Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, welcomed Joshua to the team, calling his involvement ‘a huge win.’
“Anthony’s support provides momentum as we aim to defend our title in Madrid,” Murray confirmed.
Padel is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK, with the number of courts surging from 350 in 2023 to over 600 today. More than 5,000 hours of padel are now played daily across the country.
At last year’s Hexagon Cup, Team AD/vantage dominated, with Martin Di Nenno and Juan Tello securing the men’s title, while Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo clinched the women’s crown. Robert Lewandowski’s team took home the Next Gen championship, adding to the excitement.
With Joshua joining Team AD/vantage’s leadership, the squad is set to build on their success and further elevate padel as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.