Coach Spotlight:
Hugo Da Silva
- Published: 1st April, 2026
- UK
- Coach
- 5-min read
From Portuguese Tennis Courts to Nottingham’s Padel Scene
Growing up in Portugal, Hugo spent his weekends competing in tennis tournaments – a rhythm that shaped his understanding of racket sports from an early age. Though he eventually stepped away from competitive tennis as other interests took over, that foundation never left him, he told us.
It was while studying sports science at a Portuguese university that Hugo reached a turning point. After a year and a half, he recognised the course wasn’t the right fit and made the decision to return to Nottingham. What came next would set the direction for his career: a coaching role alongside the first ever padel courts in the city. From there, opportunities followed, and Hugo eventually moved to WPA (World Padel Academy) Mansfield, where he has been coaching for the past 18 months.
Build the Right Habits Early
Hugo’s coaching philosophy is grounded in practicality. For newcomers, his advice is simple: try the sport first, see if it clicks, and if it does, invest in proper beginner sessions before anything else.
“Get some intro to padel or beginner lessons so that you form the right habits,” he says. It’s an approach rooted in long-term thinking rather than quick wins. Lay the groundwork properly, and the enjoyment follows naturally, along with the social connections that make padel what it is.
That same directness carries into his views on content creation. Hugo believes coaches should lean into authenticity rather than chasing trends or imitating others. As he puts it: “Be yourself. There’s only one of you. The right audience is out there for your content, so don’t try and be someone else to please a certain audience.”
Be yourself. There’s only one of you, don’t try and be anyone else. The right audience is out there for your content so don’t try and be someone else to please a certain audience.
Community as the Foundation
For Hugo, community isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the bedrock of any successful padel centre. He sees it as the connective tissue that helps players find matches, meet new people, and stay engaged with the sport.
Building that kind of environment takes genuine effort. It means creating sessions where people can socialise, being open-armed with newcomers, and – above all – listening. “To build a strong community you have to communicate and be understanding of people and their needs,” Hugo explains. “Listen and act with the community.”
What’s Next
Hugo is focused on continuing his development as a coach while working towards a higher LTA ranking when time allows. But personal ambition takes a back seat to a broader goal – making sure everyone feels included in padel’s growth.
“There’s no room to be selfish,” he says. “We should all be together as one, helping one another.”
The community is the ground for Padel Centre, it’s how people get matches with other players, get insights on anything that happens within the industry. To build a strong community you have to communicate and be understanding of people and their needs. Listen & act with the community.
Written by Jamie Rowe
World Padel Network
Know someone who should be featured?
We spotlight coaches, clubs, communities, and brands making a difference in padel. If you know someone with a story worth sharing, we’d like to hear about it.