In the podcast “Sportschau F – Inspiring Women from Sport”, padel player Victoria Kurz explains how to assert herself in a marginal sport and why she wants to no longer be Germany’s number one at some point.
Even as a child, Victoria Kurz had a passion for balls. For the little yellow ones, but also the big orange ones. The Karlsruhe native comes from a basketball family, but she still chose tennis.
She quickly realizes that sport with felt balls can become more than just a leisure activity for her. In 2019, when she was just 20, she took the step from tranquil Karlsruhe to college in the USA – with the aim of becoming a professional. For Kurz, this is a dream come true. But she soon realizes how high the price is.
“Today I would make some decisions differently”
The pressure to perform at US college is enormous and your body doesn’t always keep up. The injuries are piling up: a stress fracture in her back, torn ligaments, broken ankles – but she continues to play. Your demand to function is greater than your own physical limits.
I often played beyond my limits.
A phase that shapes her – athletically, but also personally. Looking back, the 26-year-old says: “Today I would make some decisions differently.” Padel comes into her life at this moment quite by chance. During an injury, she just gives it a try.
Padel is “tennis in cool”
Padel is a mix of tennis and squash, played in doubles, with walls around the court. It is a new, innovative concept that “ignites a new fire” in Victoria Kurz, as she says. And she feels comfortable in the 10 by 20 meter glass box.
For me, padel is just cool tennis.
And she feels something that she no longer knew from tennis: less pressure, but more ease. The sport of padel is more emotional and accessible than tennis, with a relaxed atmosphere and closeness to the audience – padel is “tennis in cool”.
Padel quickly becomes more than just a replacement for Victoria Kurz – it is her new beginning in sport. One that gives her the opportunity to attack at a high level again. With success: Kurz started her professional career in 2022 and became German champion straight away – further titles to follow. It is establishing itself internationally and is now one of the top 100 in the world. Padel becomes the “love of her life,” as she says.
Padel is the number one trend sport
In Germany too, many people have now taken the sport of padel into their hearts. Around 250,000 are currently playing regularly, especially recreational athletes, said the managing director of the German Padel Association, Stefanie Steibel, to “Wirtschaftswoche”. But these numbers are estimates. The individual courts are registered in the umbrella organization, but not the active ones. But one thing is certain for the PDV managing director: there are more and more every day.
Despite this development, padel is a niche sport in Germany, says Kurz. There is a lack of training structures, experienced coaches and, above all, competition at a high level. Germany is a “padel developing country”.
The consequence: If you want to compete internationally, you have to go abroad. This also applies to Viktoria Kurz, who now trains primarily in Barcelona, Spain, because the sport there is much more professionally organized. In Spain there are more players at a high level and better training conditions.
Victoria Kurz travels around the world for padel
Making a living as a padel professional is still difficult. Kurz regularly jets around the world and takes part in the biggest tournaments. However, she usually travels without a large team and often travels alone with just her playing partner. Financially, it’s not a sure-fire success, she says. Because the prize money does not always cover the costs. Even the biggest tournaments can end up being a losing proposition.
Mental strength as the key to success
The central issue for Viktoria Kurz is dealing with expectations – from outside, but also from herself. She finds going into tournaments as the favorite to be much more difficult than playing the role of an outsider.
In the podcast “Sportschau F – Inspiring Women from Sport” she speaks openly about doubts, pressure situations and strategies for dealing with them. Clear routines and conscious breaks help her to concentrate on what is important.
At the same time, she emphasizes how important a stable environment is – family, trainers, close contacts. “It’s not possible alone,” says Kurz: “You need people next to you.”
Kurz wants to pave the way for young players
Despite her successes, 26-year-old Viktoria Kurz thinks beyond her own career. Her wish: to no longer be number one in Germany in a few years, “then we’ve done it right,” she says, referring to the development of her sport.
I hope that in a few years I will no longer be number one.
That’s why she sees herself as a pioneer: for young players, for better structures and for more visibility.
