Winner of the KNLTB Padel Guide Tournament, Daan Veldhuis: ‘You have to focus on the possibilities.’
Sport has been a constant theme throughout his life. ‘I started playing tennis when I was five,’ he says. ‘I played at a high level until I was fourteen. Then I took a step back and focused on football for a while. When I became a tennis coach to earn some extra money, I started to feel the urge to play again. I played quite enthusiastically in Leeuwarden. It was through tennis that I also came into contact with padel. I started playing it myself and trained to become a padel instructor.’ That first encounter made an impression. ‘Padel felt different straight away. With padel, you really get that wow factor. It’s a new sport, people improve quickly and there’s a lot of enthusiasm. That makes teaching it incredibly enjoyable too.’
His life began to revolve more and more around the sport. ‘As well as teaching and playing, I run a tennis and padel shop in Leeuwarden, Match & Play. Actually, I’m involved with the sport all day long.’
At a certain point, I knew: I’m going all-in on padel
Although he remained active as a tennis player for a long time, the balance began to shift gradually. ‘Last summer, I played my final tennis league match. Before that, I’d already been competing in more serious padel tournaments and realised: this is what I want to focus on.’ That decision became increasingly clear. ‘I started to think: do I really want to put time and energy into this? In the end, I decided to let go of tennis as a sport in its own right and focus entirely on padel. That gave me peace of mind and direction.’
From playing for fun to 42nd in the Netherlands
His progress was rapid. ‘Last year, my goal was to reach the top 60. In the end, I finished 49th. Now I’m 42nd in the Netherlands and I want to make it into the top 30.’ To take that step, he’s training more intensively than ever. ‘I’m doing personal training at Fysio 058, where I have a partnership, under the guidance of Anton Kingma in Leeuwarden. I also do my padel training with Ruud van Hees, assistant coach of the Dutch padel team. I do these sessions at Allied Sports in Sneek, where I also work part of the week. Here I teach, do venue management and sales work for Bullpadel Netherlands. As a player, I am sponsored by Bullpadel Netherlands, led by Glenn Keenan and Scipio van der Schoot, whom I would like to thank for this opportunity and partnership. This combination is very beneficial for my network.’
You invest a lot: time, energy and money
‘Padel isn’t a sport you can easily make a living from. It’s still a relatively new sport and prize money is limited, so you have to work a day job on the side.’
What’s more, the costs add up quickly. ‘Tournaments are often at the weekend, but sometimes during the week as well. You travel all over the Netherlands and incur costs for hotels, training sessions and equipment. Without sponsorship, it’s almost impossible.’ That’s why Daan is actively seeking sponsors and setting up partnerships. ‘I’ve drawn up a sponsorship plan myself. Think of sponsorship on clothing, support and partnerships with companies.’
In Leeuwarden, you have to create your own opportunities
As a player from Friesland, he doesn’t always have the ideal conditions. ‘In Leeuwarden, there’s only one indoor venue. In Groningen, for example, there are six. At a higher level, the pool of talent here is thin.’ Whereas he initially saw this as a disadvantage, he now views it differently. ‘I focus on what is possible. I drive to Groningen or North Holland for good matches. You have to create your own opportunities.’
Padel Guide Tournament at the Padelfabriek
The P100 KNLTB tournament, organised in his home town of Leeuwarden, was therefore a special and welcome event for Daan. ‘It was great that a P100 tournament was organised in Leeuwarden. I know a lot of people at the Padelfabriek, of course.’ Daan even helped to fill out the tournament draw with extra pairs. Together with his partner Werner Lootsma, he was the favourite. ‘That does put pressure on you. So when you actually win the tournament, it feels really good.’
Experience made the difference
He recently made his debut at the Dutch Championships. ‘We won the first round, but lost after that. I wasn’t entirely satisfied.’
Still, he saw it mainly as a learning experience. ‘On a stage like that, you realise what matters: conviction in your decisions, the quality of your shots. That comes with experience. After a few days, you can put it into perspective: it’s just a step in the process.’
Creative left-hander
His playing style helps him stand out. ‘I’m left-handed, and you don’t see that very often at the top of the rankings. I’m also creative and play quite directly.’ That sometimes led to surprises, especially in the beginning. ‘Players didn’t know me very well yet and would think: what’s going on here? I’ve now made a name for myself and they know me, which only makes me even more determined to keep surprising them with my play.’
A good partner really makes the difference
In padel, you always play as a pair, and that presents challenges for a budding professional. ‘At the start, not everyone wants to play with you because of your ranking or your level. You have to prove yourself.’ He now regularly plays with experienced players. ‘Werner Lootsma is one of my regular partners. He’s been in the top 5 and played for the Dutch national team. I learn a lot from him.’ When playing in a pair, it’s always a matter of finding the right combination. ‘You want to have a good connection, understand each other and be able to rely on one another. It’s not just about playing well individually, but about the team.’ One of his most memorable matches was played recently with another well-known padel partner, Tomas Nunes. ‘In Rijswijk, we beat a top-seeded pair who are ranked around the top 10 in the Netherlands.’ That victory was important. ‘Then you know: I can handle this level. That gives you confidence and reassurance.’
Focus on what is possible
For recreational players who want to follow in his footsteps, he has a clear message. ‘Focus on what is possible, not on what’s holding you back. For a while, I was too caught up in a mindset where I mainly saw the challenge as a lack of good teammates or training venues. That gets you nowhere.’ Mentally, too, it’s important to persevere. ‘See it as a process. If someone says “no” to your request to play together or a tournament doesn’t go to plan, keep going. At some point, you’ll reach a turning point. And if that doesn’t happen, adjust your goals first.’
I want to reach the top 30
His goals are clear. ‘I want to reach the top 30 in the Netherlands and play in enough international tournaments.’ At the same time, he remains realistic. ‘The sport is growing, the standard is rising. Just maintaining your position is an achievement in itself.’ But for Daan, it’s about more than just results. ‘Everything I put into padel now also helps me off the court. It’s good for my network, my business and my image.’
If I can inspire people, that’s a win in itself
As a young lad, he wasn’t able to realise his tennis dream. It’s perhaps a motivating force that drives him to give it his all now. At the same time, Daan remains a down-to-earth northerner. ‘If I stop at some point, my ranking will disappear. Even though I’m currently pursuing a specific goal, I also know that ultimately it’s not about that ranking, but about how I feel.’ And that feeling is good. ‘I’m getting the most out of it now and feel that I’m getting better and better. If I can inspire others to take up padel too, at whatever level, or to approach sport with a clear goal in mind, then that might just be the best result.’
Photographer: Sil Veldhuis of Blend By Us.
