{"id":32783,"date":"2024-05-30T12:32:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T16:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=32783"},"modified":"2024-05-30T12:32:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T16:32:57","slug":"ex-red-wing-great-zetterberg-brings-padel-fever-to-detroit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/ex-red-wing-great-zetterberg-brings-padel-fever-to-detroit","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Red Wing great Zetterberg brings padel fever to Detroit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/05\/22\/PDTN\/73801813007-20240520-ctjbu-zetterberg-padel-026.jpg?width=980&amp;height=656&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Henrik Zetterberg, co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a return during a game of padel at the Sterling Heights club. The former Red Wings star picked up the game in Sweden after retiring from the NHL five years ago.\" width=\"549\" height=\"367\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Henrik Zetterberg, co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a return during a game of padel at the Sterling Heights club. The former Red Wings star picked up the game in Sweden after retiring from the NHL five years ago. Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Sterling Heights<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 What game does former NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner and Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg occupy himself with in retirement? Padel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Padel?<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The racquet sport is red-hot in Europe, South America and now the United States. With its origins in Mexico, the dynamic sport is a combination of tennis, squash, racquetball and platform tennis \u2014 and Zetterberg is addicted. So much so that he and two former Wings teammates, fellow Swedes Niklas Kronwall and Gustav Nyquist, have brought the game to Metro Detroit.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Zetterberg's Zmash Padel captures latest racquet craze\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_vp_w\" data-g-r=\"vp_tp\" data-c-vt=\"teal\" data-t-pl=\"teal-storyinline-aplus\">Partnering with former Swedish padel pro Robert Kjellberg, they have opened the largest indoor facility in the Midwest: <a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zmashpadel.com\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">Zmash Padel<\/a>\u00a0in Sterling Heights, just north of the General Motors Co. Global Technical Center.<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe\u2019re really excited to be here with this fantastic sport. I retired in 2019, moved back to Sweden, (and) wanted to do something,\u201d said Zetterberg, who suffered back injuries in his last years on the ice. \u201cI had a tough time playing tennis, running \u2014 but I had to move. I found out about this sport \u2014 it was one of the few activities that was good for my back, and I still get a really good workout. So, I started to play, and I got really, really hooked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/05\/23\/PDTN\/73816139007-zmash-padel-kjellberg-zetterberg.jpg?width=990&amp;height=558&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"546\" height=\"308\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_cap gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Robert Kjellberg (lft) and Henrik Zetterberg, co-owners of Zmash Padel in Sterling heights. The Z stands for Zetterberg. Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Pronounced puh-del in the United States (\u201cpaddle\u201d overseas), the doubles-team game is just 55 years old (about the same age as another popular racquet sport, pickleball). A net bisects the court like in tennis but with a 20% smaller surface area. Scoring is the same as tennis, as are the (slightly less-pressurized) balls. But the sport is played with a string-less bat inside four plexiglass walls, and the ball can be played off the glass like squash and racquetball, with playing field boundaries extending beyond the box.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The serve? Underhanded like pickleball.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GzBw0T9-KAU\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">Professional points can get crazy<\/a>\u00a0with smashes off the glass, players running outside the walls to pop balls back into play, and multiple shot angles. It\u2019s made for TV. Popular in South America, the sport jumped the pond to Spain \u2014 then surged in Sweden during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt\u2019s the second-biggest sport in Spain, behind soccer. A lot of Swedes vacation in Spain, and they brought the sport back to Sweden,\u201d said Kjellberg, CEO of Zmash (yes, the Z is a reference to Zetterberg). \u201cDuring the pandemic, padel was the only activity you could do in Sweden. So, basically, the whole nation started playing it, and it exploded from there. Now, it&#8217;s huge all over Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Swedish hockey trio of Zetterberg, Kronwall and Nyquist thought it a great fit for Detroit. As did Kjellberg, who was intrigued by the U.S. sports market after a stint here as a college tennis coach \u2014 and had just sold First Class Padel, a chain of six clubs in Sweden. A partnership was born.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/05\/23\/PDTN\/73816114007-zmash-padel-voucher.jpg?width=980&amp;height=719&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"A Zmash Padel voucher (signed by Zetterberg) allows for a free hour of court time in Sterling Heights.\" width=\"530\" height=\"389\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><em>A Zmash Padel voucher (signed by Zetterberg) allows for a free hour of court time in Sterling Heights. Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"A Zmash Padel voucher (signed by Zetterberg) allows for a free hour of court time in Sterling Heights.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cMichigan has a similar climate as in Sweden \u2014 nothing much to do in the wintertime except watch pro sports \u2014 so we looked into bringing it over here and, two years later, here we are,\u201d Zetterberg said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Since Zmash\u2019s opening just six months ago, it&#8217;s hooked athletes from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Zetterberg, 43, and Kjellberg, 33 \u2014 who played for three years on the World Padel Tour \u2014 joined the 62-year-old author of this article (a tennis player and former college basketball forward), and four-time NCAA All-America squash star Jess Berline, 52, of Birmingham for a fun game at Zmash.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/05\/22\/PDTN\/73801810007-20240520-ctjbu-zetterberg-padel-007.jpg?width=980&amp;height=724&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Robert Kjellberg, CEO and co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a shot at the company's Sterling Heights facility. He played on the World Padel Tour before joining with two former Red Wings to bring the sport to Macomb County six months ago.\" width=\"523\" height=\"387\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Robert Kjellberg, CEO and co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a shot at the company's Sterling Heights facility. He played on the World Padel Tour before joining with two former Red Wings to bring the sport to Macomb County six months ago.\" data-c-credit=\"Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News\">\n<p><em>Robert Kjellberg, CEO and co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a shot at the company&#8217;s Sterling Heights facility. He played on the World Padel Tour before joining with two former Red Wings to bring the sport to Macomb County six months ago. Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Like me, Zetterberg\u2019s instincts come from tennis (though he joked he has to resist the temptation to check opponents into the plexiglass), having played it as a youth. Combining those instincts (which occasionally dictated a two-hand backhand when digging the ball out of a corner) with his world-class athleticism, he makes for a solid, consistent padel player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cI think it\u2019s like my hockey career. I wasn\u2019t great at one thing \u2014 I was average on everything,\u201d smiled the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. \u201cFor padel, it\u2019s the same thing. I don\u2019t have the power, I don\u2019t have the volley game, but average, decent play can get you a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Berline (working the walls) and I (punching volleys) brought our own skills to bear, and our foursome played spirited games. The democratic nature of the sport is one reason for its exponential growth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt\u2019s an easy learning curve to play,\u201d Zetterberg said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to have a racquet background to play. I think that\u2019s one of the benefits of padel, because the ball always comes to you, even if it goes by you. It will come back off the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">That perspective is echoed by Zmash regular Michele Kowalkowski, 58, of Lake Orion \u2014 a tennis player-turned-pickleball teaching pro who has become a Padel Pied Piper, leading pals to Zmash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cAnybody can play this game. It\u2019s fundamentally easy to keep the ball in the court and get a great workout,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of tennis, platform tennis and pickleball \u2014 but you will never master this game. You are always learning. The strategy is just fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In addition to Zmash Padel league play, she enjoys the game with her daughter, Livy, and her husband, Scott, a former Lions linebacker. \u201cThe facility is so inviting, and so are the people and staff you meet here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Zetterberg &amp; Co. located Zmash in a Sterling Heights warehouse space for its accessibility to all corners of the metro area \u2014 then they outfitted it to the nines. The lobby welcomes you with plush couches, chairs and video screens \u2014 and locker rooms are first-class. Players can sign up for lessons, court time and leagues on the Matchi racquet sports app. Membership is not required, but a $19 monthly membership will get you $20 off an hour\u2019s $100 court fee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The business model is inclusivity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The courts are state-of-the-art, with regulation ceilings and aisles so that Zmash can host amateur tournaments, as well as international pro tourneys.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/05\/22\/PDTN\/73801817007-20240520-ctjbu-zetterberg-padel-063.jpg?width=980&amp;height=580&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Robert Kjellberg returns a serve during a game of padel at Zmash in Sterling Heights. The game imported from Europe combines elements of tennis, platform tennis and pickleball.\" width=\"528\" height=\"313\" \/><em>Robert Kjellberg returns a serve during a game of padel at Zmash in Sterling Heights. The game imported from Europe combines elements of tennis, platform tennis and pickleball. Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Robert Kjellberg returns a serve during a game of padel at Zmash in Sterling Heights. The game imported from Europe combines elements of tennis, platform tennis and pickleball.\" data-c-credit=\"Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The club held its first tournament earlier this month. \u201cI came in and Nyquist flew in from Nashville \u2014 he\u2019s still playing hockey with the Predators \u2014 so we teamed up,&#8221; Zetterberg said. &#8220;Unfortunately, we didn\u2019t do great, but that shows there is a good level here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Back home in A\u0308ngelholm, Sweden, Zetterberg plays about three times a week. \u201cEvery pro athlete \u2014 when they retire \u2014 it&#8217;s hard to find that competitiveness. Some people go fishing or climbing or play golf. But padel is a sport where you get the competitiveness and a really good workout. I play golf a lot, but padel is the sport that gives me the most joy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">According to the International Padel Federation, there are more than 25 million active players across some 90 countries. Players from Argentina and Spain dominate the World Padel Tour, with a focus on making TV-friendly padel an Olympic sport in 2032. The United States has 400 courts (and is on course to get to 30,000 by 2032, according to the United States Padel Association) and mega-clubs like Miami\u2019s Ultra Padel, which has 20 courts and plans eight others \u2014 most of them outdoors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">After establishing the Sterling Heights location, Kjellberg said Zmash looks to expand to another location in Metro Detroit, as well as in Grand Rapids. Long-term plans include Cleveland and Chicago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWith this business here, me and my family will be able to come (to Michigan) more often,\u201d Zetterberg said. \u201cI spent 16 years here as a Red Wing; my son was born here; we have a lot of friends here. We still call this home because we have so many good memories here. That\u2019s why we come here because we love the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Zmash Padel<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">6635 Sterling Drive S, Sterling Heights<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Open daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">(947) 231-6515<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zmashpadel.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.zmashpadel.com\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">www.zmashpadel.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Henrik Zetterberg, co-owner of Zmash Padel, hits a return during a game of padel at the Sterling Heights club. The former Red Wings star picked up the game in Sweden after retiring from the NHL five years ago. Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News Sterling Heights\u00a0\u2014 What game does former NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32783"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32784,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32783\/revisions\/32784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}