PADELMANIA Grand Open: 23–25 October, at Tunari. Sign up
The PADELMANIA story begins long before the first match at Herăstrău. In the early 1990s, in Madrid, Daniel — Dani — Prieto discovered a sport that would change the way he spent his time. Padel was only just taking shape there, and it was already becoming his favorite game.
When he moved to Bucharest in 2006, Dani didn't find the court he was looking for. He went back to the tennis of his childhood, which he had left behind as a teenager for padel. But the idea of bringing his new sport home, to Romania, stayed with him.
Years of conversations with friends followed, until the idea turned into a court. The first one was installed in Mamaia for a big summer promotion, then moved to Bucharest for another month of showcasing. At the end of that road it reached Herăstrău and became the first court of the first padel club in Romania.
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That's also when Rafael Moreno joined the team. Rafa had a job that didn't fit into an ordinary lesson: introducing padel to an entire country. His level of play caught people's eye, and the warmth with which he welcomed them made them come back.
For years, he was the one who looked after Herăstrău and trained generations of players. Many of those who discovered padel here learned from him not only the shots, but also the joy of playing.
Today, Rafa coaches at Tunari as PADELMANIA Head Coach and coach of the Romanian National Padel Team, and he keeps contributing to the growth of Romanian padel.
At Herăstrău, one court quickly became three. At first, many of the players came from Bucharest's Spanish community. Around them gathered friends, colleagues and people trying, for the first time, a sport with walls and a partner by their side.
Later, PADELMANIA began operating the ParkLake club, and Herăstrău grew to six courts. Growing meant more than room for matches: it meant more meetups, more habits and more reasons to come back.
Between 2022 and 2026, our energy went into developing and building PADELMANIA Tunari. They were years of challenges, difficult decisions and enthusiasm for a club that could take the experience further.
Along the way, we were joined by partners who brought resources, energy and confidence in a long-term project. Oana's involvement on the legal and administrative side and Mickaël's arrival as Director of Operations gave the team more structure and the strength to turn plans into reality.
Tunari is the result of this shared work. It's our flagship club and the expression of an idea that has been with us from the start: padel to a high standard, in a place where people can build their community.
We want Tunari to become a meeting point for Bucharest's padel community. A place where you come to play, but also to work, to eat, to see your friends or to make new ones.
At home, at the office and… at PADELMANIA Tunari. That's how we picture the club's place in the lives of those who join us. The story continues with every person who steps onto the court.
Put Fun into Sports
The passion brought from Madrid and the idea that set the first court in motion.
Coach of the Romanian National Padel Team. He built the Herăstrău community through play, patience and closeness to people; today he coaches at Tunari.
An essential contribution to strengthening the company.
The organization that supports the team and the clubs' day-to-day experience.
Alongside them are the partners, the coaches and the club teams: the people who make PADELMANIA a place you want to come back to.
The stories of PADELMANIA's people continue in Padel News.