TikTok Star Zarou and Bayern Pro Kimmich Invest in Innovative Padel Format

The stage is set for the next major disruptor in the sporting world as the Munich-based company Padel City has launched a specialized subsidiary dedicated to establishing premier entertainment formats within the globally surging racket sport. This new venture focuses on maximizing reach through an event series designed specifically for digital platforms like YouTube and Twitch, complemented by high-impact social content on Instagram and TikTok. The ultimate objective is to establish padel matches as "media-driven, primarily digital must-see events," backed by the influence of prominent figures such as TikTok sensation Younes Zarou and football world champion Joshua Kimmich.

At the heart of this newly founded entity, Padel City Entertainment, is the "One Point Challenge"—a high-intensity format that was successfully piloted twice in Dortmund during 2025. Unlike traditional matches that can span hours, this format is defined by a single rally that determines whether a player advances or is immediately eliminated. With the injection of fresh capital, the organizers now plan to scale this unique "all-or-nothing" concept into an international circuit known as the One Point Challenge Tour (OPCT).

The leadership team driving Padel City Entertainment combines deep expertise from the worlds of business and digital media, led by Padel City CEO Jonathan Sierck and Johann Griebl, the former head of ProSiebenSat.1’s creator network Studio71 and the fitness brand Gymondo. Football professional Joshua Kimmich joins as a co-founder and will serve as a central ambassador for the tour. Further prestige is added by shareholder Marta Ortega Gallego, one of the world's most successful padel players currently ranked eighth globally, while the creator perspective is represented by investor Younes Zarou, who commands a massive audience of over 100 million followers across his social platforms.

The tour’s journey begins on April 18 in Regensburg, featuring participants like Twitch streamer Adrian Vogt, better known as "Aditotoro," who will participate as both a player and a broadcast partner. Looking ahead to 2026, the OPCT plans to host up to eight events across Europe, spanning from Amsterdam to Solothurn, offering players a prize pool of 10,000 euros per stop. International expansion is being fueled by strategic licensing partners such as Peakz Padel in the Netherlands, Padelta in Switzerland, and the Mallorca Country Club. The season is set to culminate in late 2026 with a grand finale in Germany to crown an "OPCT World Champion," where a prize fund of 100,000 euros is currently on the table.

While padel has been on a relentless upward trajectory worldwide, the sport is still seeking its definitive mainstream breakthrough in the German market. Previous televised efforts, such as the Celebrity Padel World Cup in October 2025, drew a modest average of 560,000 live viewers on ProSieben, reflecting a 3.1 percent market share. However, by pivoting away from traditional TV and doubling down on digital platforms where padel content is already booming, the OPCT’s innovative format has a significant opportunity to capture the attention of a much broader, younger audience.