You can never go wrong with racket sports whether you are looking to keep fit, relieve stress or simply meet new people. There is always something for everyone, from badminton’s strategic precision to tennis’s fast-paced thrill.
While all these variations have huge followings and fierce competition, padel seems to be taking the world by storm. The game has experienced a massive surge over the past year. What was recently considered a curious niche pastime is now among the fastest-growing sports in the country.
Who would’ve thought that a game considered a fusion of tennis and squash would quickly become a major sport in the UK? The game itself is played on a small court with glass walls. Luckily, analysing the history of padel in the UK from its inception to its rise in popularity can help to clarify how it has become a major sport.
The introduction of padel in Britain
Padel was invented in Mexico by Enrique Corcuera, who was determined to play a racket sport but couldn’t seem to find enough space. It was a creative adaptation that uniquely mixed squash and tennis elements to provide players with an entertaining experience. The tennis scoring system and walled court with smaller racquets made it more relatable, leading to its adoption.
The sport soon made its way into Argentina and Spain, becoming popular within a short period. This significant growth facilitated padel’s introduction into markets worldwide, including the UK. The first UK padel court was built in 1992 at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
This padel court was largely underutilized for decades, as the game lacked both visibility and investment in Britain. It was not until the mid-2010s that professionals returning from Spain started championing the game at a grassroots level. Several private clubs and leisure centres started setting up padel courts as an add-on to existing tennis facilities.
The biggest breakthrough for padel in the UK came when sports developers started viewing the game as a scalable business with massive potential. This led to the widespread introduction of padel in major cities such as Manchester and London. They marketed these padel-specific clubs as leisure destinations rather than side-courts, further enhancing its development and popularity.
At present, the best betting sites UK 2025 have padel listed among the top betting markets. More and more people are wagering on international tournaments, helping the sport gain even more traction. It is a new offering that increases the options for UK bettors while providing fans with the opportunity to engage with the sport in a completely new way.
The journey to recognition with institutional backing
Padel’s most significant milestone in the UK happened in 2019 when it was included under a legal governing body: the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). It was an endorsement that ensured the sport found the proper structure and legitimacy it had long needed.
The LTA’s first order of business at this time was to push for the inclusion of padel in the national sports framework. The body started by actively funding initiatives and offering coaching certifications with the aim of introducing more people to the sport. This proactive approach not only cemented the sport into the country’s sporting culture but also made it more sustainable.
Thanks to this official recognition, padel also found it easier to gain media coverage. Media houses flooded with discussions surrounding this recently introduced yet captivating sport. Positioning itself as a complement rather than a competitor to tennis during these interviews further ensured the sport was widely embraced by tennis communities throughout the country.
The overnight rise of padel clubs and facilities
The rise of padel in the UK has been marked by the establishment of clubs that are exclusively dedicated to the sport. Several companies, such as Padel4All, have invested significantly in the game to bring it to a broader audience. This has led to more organisations chipping in to help make the sport more popular within the country.
Luckily, padel’s format is well suited for urban settings, amplifying its growth. For starters, companies need smaller courts that can be completely walled, which is easier to find in underutilized areas such as industrial parks and old car parks. This also means the game can be played all year round, which is a critical advantage considering the UK’s climate.
Finally, these Padel courts have proved to be a worthy investment as the number of players continues to rise across the country. While the numbers are nowhere close to tennis, the growth is relatively rapid and does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. It is no coincidence that more than 250 padel courts are available in the UK, with more still in development, according to the LTA.
Ease of accessibility
A huge part of why people have quickly embraced padel as the go-to sport in the UK is its accessibility. For one, the rules are pretty simple, and you can start playing almost immediately. It is also a budget-friendly sport since the equipment is minimal compared to other racket sports.
Families, beginners and older players find it easier to enjoy a game of padel due to the gentle learning curve and low barrier to entry. Women have also embraced the game, helping close the gender gap that is often visible in other sports. Finally, playing the game in pairs provides a sense of community that has helped the game flourish over the years.
This ease of accessibility has led to padel’s endorsement by several celebrities. Footballers such as David Beckham have publicly promoted the sport, and others have shown support by investing in padel facilities. British influencers have also jumped on the bandwagon, sharing their padel experience across different social platforms.
The competitive nature of the sport
Although grassroots participation sparked the entire evolution of padel, the emergence of competitive play has added much-needed depth. Today, players can regularly participate in local leagues, national tournaments and club competitions. This has led to the introduction of performance pathways and rankings, which help promote the sport locally and internationally.
LTA’s long-term goal is to ensure the sport is viewed as more than recreational. This will help establish healthy competition in the sport, bringing it to the level of cricket and tennis.
Padel is here to stay
The history of padel in the UK is quite fascinating as what was merely an imported curiosity is now a major sport in just over a decade. It is unmistakably here to stay, with an increasing number of people discovering the joy of padel.
