It’s Always 6-Love: Meet the Entrepreneur Who is Powering the Women's Padel Revolution.

Andi Neugarten-Maio: Elevating Women's Padel with 6LoveSports

Andi Neugarten-Maio's life is a masterclass in athletic and entrepreneurial evolution. From the tennis courts of South Africa to the grueling demands of Ironman races, she has continually pushed the boundaries of what's possible. Now, she's channeling that intense focus and community-building spirit into the explosive growth of padel in the U.S. through her company, 6LoveSports.

With a mission to elevate, empower, and connect women in the sport, Neugarten-Maio is a driving force behind the sold-out leagues, vibrant events, and burgeoning community that's turning padel into a lifestyle. We caught up with her to discuss her incredible backstory, the "aha" moment that led her to padel, and her ambitious vision for the future of the game.

Getting to Know You: Your Roots and Athletic Journey

You've got an epic sports backstory—starting tennis at age five in South Africa, competing as a junior, then shifting gears due to apartheid's impact on global opportunities. How did those early experiences shape your love for racket sports, and what made you pivot to academics and eventually the U.S.?

Wow, great question and so much to tell. I started playing tennis at age five. I had some talent and I've always been athletic with strong hand-eye coordination. My whole life was tennis; I was a Type A personality, super focused. I was going to be Chris Evert or Tracy Austin! I was so intense that I would do all my homework at school to free up my afternoons for training and tournaments. I even kept detailed notes after every single practice and workout, and had notes on all my old rivals!

When I was 15, I had an offer to go to Bollitieri academy in Florida, but my dad insisted I finish high school. At the time, we didn't have homeschooling options like in the US, and I decided if I couldn't play all day, everyday, I could never be number one in the world. Plus, apartheid made it hard for South Africans to get out and compete. So, at age 16, I "retired" from tennis, graduated with straight A’s, became a Chartered Accountant with a Degree in International Taxation, and took up long-distance running.

From Ironman races and over 90 marathons to becoming a certified personal trainer, you're no stranger to pushing limits. What's one standout moment from your endurance sports days that still influences how you approach challenges today?

I have two memories that really defined me. The first was during the Melbourne Ironman. The swim was hectic with big, rough waves. I got on the bike and faced a heavy headwind that depleted me. Starting the run, my legs were shot. When I saw the first distance marker—which counted down from 42 km—I almost cried and thought I was done. But I dug deep and told myself, “You may not be able to run 42 right now, but you can run one kilometer.” That’s what I did, one step at a time, until I made it.

The second was the Comrades Marathon, a grueling 92 km race in South Africa that I completed three times. I was going for a personal best but was sick with the flu and shouldn't have been running. When I realized my goal of under 7:30 wasn't happening, I let it go and set a new one: finishing in the allotted 12 hours. Slowly, I started to feel better, linked up with a group for pacing, and we set a new goal of 9 hours. Near the finish line, a guy in front of us tripped and fell. We didn’t know him, but my friends and I picked him up and kept going. We crossed the line together with nine seconds to spare, making the 9-hour cut-off. It was a powerful moment. Running is solitary, but long-distance events like that are not. Camaraderie and support are everything.

Before 6LoveSports, you founded Alii Sport, empowering women in triathlons with gear and events for over 160 athletes. What sparked that venture, and how did managing that community of fierce female athletes prepare you for the world of padel?

As an athlete, I was tired of not finding attractive, women-specific clothing in fabrics that felt fabulous on my body. I felt fat and unattractive in bulky cycling and triathlon kits, so I decided to make my own! I knew zero about clothing design but learned fast, made mistakes, and launched a magnificent line that even got a huge order from Amazon.

I also created a team of women, encouraging them to start and mentoring them on their journey. The most intimidating part of any journey, especially in triathlons, is taking the first step. Having someone to guide you is critical. It’s just like padel. It’s easy to walk on a court and hit a ball, but the journey to the next level—to competing, to finding more challenging matches—is not always easy. A mentor makes a world of difference.

Falling for Padel: The Spark and Transition

Padel's exploding globally. What was your "aha" moment when you first picked up a padel racket, and how did it hook you differently than other sports, coming from a strong tennis background?

When I first stepped on a court, it was "WOW, this is different, this feels good, this is way harder than I expected… But this is AWESOME, this is AMAZING!". I immediately saw that I had natural ability and what hooked me was the challenge—the ability to improve. This game feeds my "all-in" personality, where my motto has always been, the sky is not the limit.

I missed tennis, and padel gave me back everything I was missing, and way, way more! I played junior squash at the highest level in South Africa, so I love racket sports, but none have captured me quite like padel. Also, the social side is key. Triathlon is a lonely sport; padel is the complete opposite. It’s a great way to meet friends from all over the world.

For someone who's run marathons and crushed triathlons, what makes padel feel like the "perfect combination of healthy, fun, and social"—as you put it on your site?

Every sport I’ve played has been individual, but padel is a partnership. It’s athletic, unique, skillful, graceful, fast, and slow. I love that it will always be a challenge to improve, grow, and learn. It checks all the boxes for me.

You earned your Padel MBA certification and now coach at The Reserve in Miami. What drew you to coaching specifically, and how has immersing yourself in Miami's padel scene fueled your passion?

I actually wanted to become a coach so that I could learn more about the game for myself—it was selfish, but it was the best selfish thing I’ve ever done. I realized I absolutely love coaching and that I'm a good coach because I see things, have empathy, and genuinely care about my students.

Coaching gave me some authority to stand on the court, guide, advise, and run tournaments. It also forced me to search for excellence and keep learning new ways to teach and develop the women in my community, focusing on footwork and strategy, not just on-court hitting. The Miami scene fuels me because my goal is to support all clubs in the USA by building the community and bringing more women into padel.

6LoveSports Today: Building the Community

6LoveSports is all about elevating, empowering, and developing women's padel through tournaments, events, and networking. Can you walk us through how the company got started, and what the day-to-day looks like now as you build this community?

The day-to-day is crazy—busy and exciting! I jump out of bed at 5 a.m. and get my best work done before training at 7 a.m. I'm 100% all in, continually trying to innovate, engage new players, and create value.

It started simply because I needed more advanced women to play with. So, I created a group, and as we connected, I realized other levels needed the same thing. My tournaments and events started selling out, which gave me the idea to start a league. I'm one of those people who gets an idea and puts it into action immediately. Within three weeks, I had a website, a URL, logos, and a trademark filed—I just did it!

A typical day involves early work, training, a match, a gym workout, and often another match in the afternoon. We add in weekly round robins and league play. A lot of my day is spent finding sponsors, collaborating with brands, securing prizes, and setting schedules. Everyone sees the beautiful evening of padel, but they don't see the hours of background planning I spend each week.

The Eight Sleep Miami Women's Padel League relaunch is huge—kicking off in August with over 160 women across divisions. What's been the most exciting part of growing the league since its January debut?

What’s most exciting is seeing the growth, season by season, and seeing how many people return and how many new players keep joining! Yes, the main league is over 160 women, and we had to close registrations, but the most exciting new development is the High Beginner league that I started. I call them my "Diamonds." I started a huge beginner group in April with six ladies, and today, that group is over 160. They love padel, play every day, and their game is improving at incredible levels.

I'm honored to partner with Eight Sleep. They recognized the energy in the Women's League, which everyone says is way more fun than the men's league! They are local in Miami, and the partnership is a huge opportunity for them to gain exposure in this community. I’m extremely grateful for their support and hope to partner with them as we launch leagues in NYC, San Diego, and beyond.

Beyond leagues and events, you’re creating spaces for women to connect off the court, like the upcoming Power Padel Network. How do you see this holistic approach helping more women discover and stick with padel?

Women like to feel connected and safe. Once they find their group, they settle down and stick with it. They like to find their Tribe, and once they do, they are fully committed.

My latest initiative is the Power Padel Network (PPN), launching November 3rd. This event blends networking, entrepreneurship, and padel. It's designed to connect women on and off the court through inspiring conversations, panel discussions, clinics, and a marketplace for women-owned businesses. Our mission at 6 Love Sports is to elevate and empower women in padel, and the PPN builds on that by spotlighting women in business within our community—creating opportunities to engage, collaborate, and support each other. We believe that strong women lift each other up—on the court, in business, and in life.

Looking Ahead: Vision and Growth

Your mission is clear: Help the U.S. claim its spot on the world padel stage, especially for women. Where do you see 6LoveSports in the next year or two?

Oh yes! The best is yet to come! My new mission statement is: To elevate, empower, and connect women through the sport of padel—building a global community that inspires friendship, competition, and opportunity both on and off the court. Padel is more than a sport; it’s a lifestyle, a network, and a movement. We exist to create spaces where women feel powerful, connected, and unstoppable.

I have many exciting projects in the pipeline. These include:

• Padel travel trips.

• Rapid ambassador program expansion.

• USPA sanctioned tournaments across the USA.

• A very large, high-profile women's tournament—from pro to amateur.

• An international women's event, the Athena Cup, in Miami.

• A Junior academy and program.

• More beginner events like "bring a friend to padel".

• Support for local female pros.

With padel's rapid rise, you're optimistic about it reaching tennis-level status, maybe even producing icons like Serena Williams. What steps do you think the padel community needs to take to make that happen, and how is 6LoveSports leading the charge?

We need to focus on our kids and get padel courts in schools, rec centers, and colleges. If we don’t start now, we are at a huge disadvantage. I recently heard a beautiful story about pro players Galan and Chingotto who lived in the same condo with a padel court and started playing at age four, every day. That says it all! In the USA, it’s too hard and too expensive for kids to play. We also need to make our number one players like Delfi and Gemma into recognizable and aspirational icons like Serena.

Lessons Learned: Wisdom from the Court (and Beyond)

Transitioning from Alii Sport to 6LoveSports, what was the biggest hurdle you faced in breaking into the padel space, and how did you overcome it?

Acceptance. Miami is unique. We have so many South Americans who have been playing for years, and my biggest challenge was being accepted by these "experts" who all think they are pioneers of the game and are at a different level. I had to earn respect, work hard, and work my way in the hard way! My endurance background and physicality have been a huge asset; I’m in better shape than most of the players, young and old!

You’ve built communities that inspire women to start, improve, and thrive in sports. What’s one key lesson from your entrepreneurial journey that you'd share with aspiring padel players or business owners in the racket world?

It's not always easy dealing with people. I've had to learn patience and how to take a deep breath and not respond immediately to situations. Also, you can’t keep everybody happy. I lead with my heart and my gut, and I do what I believe feels right and is best for my community. Sometimes people get upset—I can’t control that. I just keep being me and doing me.

Finally, for our PrimeTime readers who might be new to padel or feeling intimidated: What’s the single best piece of advice you give in your coaching sessions to help someone fall in love with the game like you have?

Learn the basics, get some lessons, do clinics… but most of all, remember to have fun! And if you are a tennis player, slow down. Hit often, get one more ball back! This is all about the journey, not the destination!