Former British number one tennis player Annabel Croft took to the court at Windsor Penarth Lawn Tennis Club to officially open the first padel court in Wales.
The court was installed in April 2021 by Game4Padel but due to Covid restrictions an official launch was not possible. After a long delay, the club was delighted host such a special event a year later in celebration of bringing this exciting new sport to Wales.
At the launch event in May which was during the club’s British Tour Tier 1 tennis tournament, Annabel Croft took to the court to play a number of Pro Am padel matches to showcase the sport to spectators.
Speaking about the event, Windsor Penarth LTC Former Chairman Anthony Phillips said: “We are very lucky to have these fantastic padel facilities here at Windsor Penarth.
“Padel is a really fun, addictive game and it’s easy to learn, so it’s great for players of all abilities. The court has been extremely popular since it was installed and, after today, we’re expecting more people to come and try it out”.
Game4Padel Co-Founder and CEO, Michael Gradon added: “The sport of padel has huge potential to grow in the UK because it is fun, easy to pick up and highly sociable.
“Other European countries, like Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden, are seeing enormous take up of the sport. We are really pleased to have facilitated the opening of this first court in Wales and are already in discussions with a number of other venues in Wales to open more courts.”
Game4Padel already has the most venues open around the UK including:
- Thistle Padel Club, Edinburgh
- Barnton Park LTC, Edinburgh
- Windsor Penarth LTC, Penarth
- Huddersfield LT&SC, Yorkshire
- Ipswich Sports Club, Suffolk
- Withdean Sports Complex, Brighton
The company has a total of 29 venues open or secured including Westfield London shopping centre, a partnership with golf’s R&A at Lethamhill Glasgow, Ocean Terminal Leith, Ipswich Sports Club, Parabola Edinburgh Park business park, Broxbourne Sports Club (Hertfordshire), Draycott Sports Centre (Staffordshire), Liverpool Cricket Club, Heron Tennis Centre Newquay, Bedfont Business Park (Heathrow) and Forthill Community Sports Club Dundee, and is in discussions with an additional 50 venues.
ABOUT GAME4PADEL
Game4Padel provides a complete padel solution from feasibility to planning consent, construction, funding, management, booking systems, playing programmes, coaching support and ongoing maintenance of the facility. Game4Padel bears all the capital costs and lifetime maintenance in return for a share of revenue.
Their aim is to grow the game of padel all over the UK by helping sports clubs, universities, local authorities and commercial venues like shopping centres and business parks to add padel courts. Game4Padel sponsors British No.1 padel player, Tia Norton.
Game4Padel boasts a diverse group of experienced UK investors and ambassadors, including former world No.1 tennis players Andy Murray and Jamie Murray, the former British No.1 players Annabel Croft and Andrew Castle, and Welsh rugby legend Jonathan Davies.
The company’s Chief Executive is Michael Gradon, a former FTSE 100 main board director and longstanding Commercial and Finance Chair of the Wimbledon Championships.
For more information go to www.Game4Padel.com
