It's a special Padel weekend for Van Staden and De Lange

It was a weekend to remember for Michelle Van Staden and Rensia De Lange, who claimed their first-ever Padel4Good title in the women’s division at the Racket and Ball Club in Bree Street.

In the penultimate event of the Charity4Good’s popular Padel4Good series, 32 female players—rated between 2.5 and 5 on the PlayTomic app, came together to compete under the bright lights of Racket & Ball. Following three successful earlier editions (Men’s, Mixed, and Women’s), this latest showdown once again combined competitive spirit with social impact, raising awareness and funds for local community causes.

After several hard-fought matches, Van Staden and De Lange emerged victorious in the final, defeating Michelle Collins and Daniella Luttig while Natasha Jansen and Jessica Lemmon secured third place after a strong performance in the bronze playoff.

For De Lange, the win carried special significance. Speaking after the event, she reflected on the meaning of playing for a cause:

Padel4Good: A Charity-Driven Sporting Initiative Uniting Players for Local Causes

“It’s awesome to be part of padel and to be able to give something back to communities,” said De Lange.

Her partner, Van Staden, echoed the sentiment:

“Winning Padel4Good feels amazing. It’s not just about lifting a trophy—it’s about knowing we played for something bigger. Supporting a good cause through a sport I love gives the whole day so much more meaning.”

Their words highlight the essence of Padel4Good—a charity-driven sporting initiative that uses the fast-growing sport of padel to raise funds and awareness for local causes, uniting players of all levels in the spirit of competition, community, and contribution.

Although this was her first appearance at a Padel4Good event, De Lange is no stranger to South Africa’s padel scene. Having started playing around four years ago, she quickly made her mark:

“I played my first big event in Camps Bay, which my partner and I actually won,” she recalled. “Since then, I’ve competed in most of the major tournaments in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and even Durban—often reaching the semis or finals.”

Van Staden also reflected on her proudest moment on court since taking up the sport:

“The biggest tournament I’ve won so far is Tie Break Tens, which is the largest padel competition in South Africa. It was such a proud moment and definitely one of my favourite memories on court.”

Padel’s Rapid Growth in Major Cities vs. Slower Expansion in Smaller Towns

Reflecting on the sport’s rapid growth, De Lange believes padel’s popularity is soaring in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, but expansion in smaller towns still lags behind.

“On our side of the country, it’s not growing as fast,” she explained. “It’s an expensive sport, especially considering what people earn in smaller towns like Mossel Bay and George. That makes it harder for those communities to access it.”

To address this, she advocates for greater youth involvement.

“Getting juniors and schools involved would be amazing,” she said. “If coaching were more affordable and there was a proper ranking system, we could take padel to the next level in South Africa.”

Independent Media reached out to SA Padel’s Paul Waldburger for feedback on the sport’s growth, community outreach, and future plans. At the time of publication, a response had not yet been received.

When she’s not on the padel court, De Lange remains deeply immersed in racket sports. A tennis coach by profession, she continues to compete in tennis while balancing her growing padel commitments.

“I’ve always loved sports—tennis and padel are the two I still compete in,” she said. “I first tried padel at the World Open in Johannesburg with my tennis academy. We enjoyed it so much that I just kept playing!”

The Padel4Good series concludes next week with the Men’s Tournament on November 7. Fans and supporters can follow updates and results on the official Padel4Good Instagram page.

IOL Sport