The giant ball and selfies with stars: the Next Gen of autograph hunters takes the stage

“There’s Galan in front of Pietrangeli!”. And off they run behind the statues of the Foro Italico. “Isn’t that Carolina Orsi with Giulio Graziotti?”. And again: “Look, there’s Martita Ortega—let’s go!”. Who’s speaking? The kids hunting selfies and autographs from their idols. Just one more sign of how padel players have won the hearts of the younger generation.

An army of little fans roaming the site with laughter and excitement, armed with smartphones, caps, shirts to be signed, and the essential yellow ball – or rather, the giant ball, now iconic – which has replaced the autograph book as the champion’s signature canvas. A sacred object paired with a black permanent marker for a post-match ritual: crowding behind the players’ bench to secure a treasured memento. “Yesterday went great,” says Jacopo, 11, “with help from my dad and a court staff member, I got autographs from Gemma Triay, Javi Barahona, and Federico Chingotto”. Signed balls are a tradition now: “This is my fourth. I’ve collected about twenty autographs at tournaments in Milan, Genoa, and last year here. The most valuable? Definitely Coello, Tapia, and the Chingalan duo, but also Belasteguin—he’s retired now, so that one’s even more special,” says Jacopo beside his friend Matteo. Matteo adds: “I’ve started playing padel and train a lot—maybe in a few years, I’ll be the one signing autographs for you, Jacopo!”. (They both laugh).

“I’d love a photo with Bea Gonzalez—she’s the strongest! And of course, Lebron is always Lebron”. Or: “After getting Sinner’s autograph at the Internazionali, now I’m hoping for one from Ari Sanchez,” say two teenage girls, sharp and speedy in their quest for superstar sightings. They’re thirteen, and their autograph-hunting strategy is elite: “No point staying courtside, it’s hot and you might not get anyone. But if you hang around the player lounge, you can snag a bunch”. Carlotta, another dreamer, hopes for a racket or towel from Paquito Navarro, a fan favorite in Rome: “Maybe he’ll win and give it to me out of joy”. After all, dreaming is free.

The two ‘experts’ return: “We always ask for the racket. They say no, but then they soften up and we at least get a selfie and an autograph!”. Their words and hopes capture the pure love for this sport and the essence of the BNL Italy Major’s success: a celebration where the young dream and have fun, wide-eyed and amazed. “Claudia Fernandez was amazing—how did she do that?”, they wonder, imagining themselves one day on Centre Court like the Spanish star. A show both inside and outside the glass courts at the Foro Italico. The Rome Major is not only a showcase for the world's top stars but also the perfect place for young padel fans, with dedicated zones, courts for playing, and those unforgettable moments meeting their idols. One for social media, and later for smiling back on—like those old postcards. Not bad for the fourth edition of the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel.