Miami, tennis and a match in Madrid
Brittany Dubins was born and raised in Miami, and tennis was her first love. It was a true family affair: her dad was her coach, her sister her tennis doubles partner and her mum, in her words, “everything else”. She played at the University of Miami, a little professionally after graduating, and then returned to the university for law school.
Padel arrived by chance. On a study-abroad semester in Madrid, where her sister was living, her now brother-in-law invited her to fill in when a friend dropped out of a match and they needed a fourth. She had never played before, but, to everyone’s amusement, she beat them comfortably. She went home to finish law school and sit the bar exam, but she knew that she and Madrid had unfinished business.
Third division to Team USA
She returned in January 2019 for a Master’s in International Sports Law and started playing padel again. It was a way to exercise and meet people in a new city, and she quickly fell in love with the sport. A business development job in Madrid secured her visa, and she began competing in Madrid Federation tournaments, starting in the third division and working her way up to become a top eight player.
In 2022 she represented Team USA at the World Championship in Dubai, and in 2023 she played in the inaugural Pro Padel League. After that event she quit her job to commit to padel full time – so far, she says, the best decision she has ever made. In 2025 she became the first and only American to break into the world’s Top 100.
Beating the teams she is not supposed to beat
Dubins is clear about what drives her: “My mission is to be the best padel player I can be, which to me means beating teams that I’m not supposed to beat.”
She is the number one American padel player in the world, ranked 71, with no other American above her. Breaking into the Top 100 was a big goal; winning a main draw match at a Premier tournament would be a dream. Motivation comes from waking up each day aiming to be a little better than yesterday, and from making her parents proud.
She also wants to help grow padel in the United States, which is why she has partnered with Off the Glass, the court manufacturer she describes as the number one in the country.
The reality of the tour
Her favourite part of the journey is the people she meets and plays with, and the brands that make it a priority to support an American female athlete. She has recently started working with Oku, a female-founded company making natural energy gummies that travel with her to every tournament.
She is equally candid about the challenges. Padel players have to adapt to difficult playing conditions, jet lag, different partners and few days off. Prize money remains low, especially on the FIP circuit, and unlike tennis, a Top 100 ranking does not guarantee a living. Sponsors are essential. The biggest hurdles, in her view, are low prize money, finding sponsors and finding a good partner.
Looking ahead
The year began well. In her first FIP tournament of 2026, the FIP Bronze in Qatar, Dubins reached the final – at an event where she had lost in the first round the year before. It set the tone for her best season yet: so far in 2026 she has won five FIP titles and reached four more finals, and she has been part of the winning team at two Pro Padel League events, in New York and Playa del Carmen.
The plan is to keep travelling and competing at FIP and Premier events around the globe. Next up is Doha, where she will wear the red, white and blue with Team USA at the 2026 World Championship, from 2 to 7 November.
She shares her journey on Instagram at @brittdubins and on LinkedIn.
Photos: @beadisruptur
