Richard Brooks

Quick-fire facts

• Place of birth: Rustenburg, South Africa
• Lives: Spain
• Trains: Alicante , Spain
• Family: Parents David Brooks & Pilar Ruiz, Wife Mar Brooks and twin daughters
  Naomi Brooks Sanchez & Sheila Brooks Sanchez
• Nickname: Brooksie
• Hobbies / interests: Golf, tennis, water-ski
• Padel idol: Pablo Lima
• Favourite tournament: World championship Qatar 2020
• Best opponent faced: Juan Martin Diaz, Paquito Navarro
• Biggest title of career: Champion of the Masters Regional in Valencia
• Doubles partner: Hugo Cases, Christian Fuster

Padel beginnings

Brooks first started playing padel in 2003, during a period where he was enjoying a career as a top professional tennis coach - working with former world No.3 Jelena Jankovic.

His love for tennis and squash made padel an obvious choice, and after many conversations, Brooks decided to leave behind his stellar coaching career in 2012 to have a go at playing professionally.

Favourite moments

Brooks's favourite memory of playing on tour came in a closely fought battle with Paquito Navarro and Willy Lahoz - ranked in the world's top 20 - narrowly losing 6-4, 7-5 having had set points.

Off-court

Brooks is still heavily involved in coaching tennis and padel, and owns his own padel club in Spain. He enjoys playing and having fun with his two daughters.