Josef Southcombe is a former professional tennis player who turned a career-ending shoulder injury into the foundation of a growing padel business. Together with his father, Jon Southcombe, he founded Padel XTRA, learning every aspect of entrepreneurship the hard way — from financial modelling and fundraising to site acquisition, planning, lease negotiations and construction.
The journey has taken him from standing on a skyscraper in Istanbul discussing rooftop courts, to opening a padel club in Vietnam, and evaluating more than 500 potential sites across the UK. Along the way, he has navigated major construction surprises, tough lease negotiations, and the constant pressure to raise capital before the first clubs opened. Through it all, he has stayed focused on detail, surrounded himself with the right people, and shown the resilience to keep moving forward after every setback.
Padel XTRA is now preparing to open its first two clubs, with a further 15 planned across 2027 and 2028. Josef’s story is one of urgency, purpose, and the determination to build something lasting — both with his father and for the growing padel community.
About Padel XTRA:
Padel XTRA is a UK-based padel business founded by Josef Southcombe and his father Jon. The company is focused on developing high-quality padel clubs and is preparing to open its first two venues, with an ambitious pipeline of 15 additional clubs planned for 2027 and 2028. The business combines hands-on operational experience with a clear vision for scaling padel across the UK.
First Name: Josef
Last Name: Southcombe
Title: Head of New Business
Email: josef.southcombe@padel-xtra.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josef-southcombe-a2a71528a/
Company: Padel XTRA
Website: https://padel-xtra.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/padelxtrauk/
Location: United Kingdom