When 11-year-old Ryden Forsyth stepped onto the court for the U12 Balwin Junior Padel Tournament finals, he brought with him a mix of discipline and instinct despite it being his first professional padel tournament.

The tournament took place at Waterfall City in Midrand from November 28 to 30.

What followed was a performance that didn’t just secure him first place and the overall U12 title but firmly established him as one of the most promising young players in the sport. According to his mother, Jodie Forsyth, in the weeks leading up to the event, Ryden committed himself to a demanding training schedule.

“Five days a week were dedicated to improving every aspect of his game, from precision drills to intense match play and one-on-one coaching sessions. By the time we walked into the tournament venue with his teammate Joshua Lopes, they had already built the foundation for something special,” she says.

Despite the preparation, Ryden admitted that the nerves hit him the moment he arrived.

“I felt very nervous, but once I got on the court, I knew that I was ready,” he said.

Across three days of competition, those nerves transformed into focus. Match by match, Ryden displayed a level of composure. He played with patience when the point demanded it, and with explosive energy when the moment called for attack.

When the final point of the tournament landed in his favour, Ryden stood still for a moment, allowing the moment to sink in. He placed the overall U12 title with an additional first-place win, marking a significant milestone in his padel journey.