England cricket legend Michael Vaughan is a self-confessed padel addict and says the sport has the potential to become “the Twenty20 of tennis”.
Vaughan, who made 18 Test centuries and famously captained England to victory in the 2005 Ashes series, is an investor in The Padel Club in Wilmslow, a well-heeled suburb of Manchester.
The 48-year-old plays there at least three times a week with his wife, children and “whoever wants a game,” including local sporting glitterati such as Manchester City players Riyad Mahrez and Rodri, Burnley striker Ashley Barnes and ex-GB rugby league player Jon Wilkin.
When The Padel Paper joined Vaughan and his teenage son for an afternoon hit at the plush four-court venue, the Yorkshireman had no doubts about padel’s huge potential – and the impact it is set to have on its ‘big brother’ tennis.
He said: “I would compare padel to T20 cricket, which came to the fore in the early 21st century. Within just a few years, T20 became massive and is now having an effect on the way England play Test match cricket.
“If I was a tennis club, I’d be getting these padel courts around the tennis facility and inviting people to play padel first and then play tennis. It might be a threat but it’s also a great opportunity for tennis.
“I don’t want to ‘bag’ tennis, but when I play I’m constantly picking balls out the net or going to fetch them from the next court. In my opinion, padel is a better game. It’s an easier game to play so it gives more opportunity for more people to play it. What we’re creating here is a community and everyone is welcome because padel is a game anyone can play.
“I would be staggered if in the next five years we don’t have a similar number of courts to Sweden [several thousand]. I think all schools will have it and there will be major leagues and competitions throughout the UK and Europe.”
A stone’s throw from Manchester Airport, The Padel Club has four uncovered courts, a coffee bar and an attractive spectators’ area. Four indoor courts will be added this summer.
The club has a junior programme (Padel Cubs), plus women’s mornings, Sunday socials, sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and more – all overlooked by hard-working resident coach Ben Goodeve. Since the courts opened in June, they have had a very high occupancy rate (peak and off-peak).
“We’re in a great spot here and obviously location is very important, but the community is the key,” states Vaughan. “We are creating a real club vibe with people having fun and making friends. I love the Playtomic app which allows you to easily play with three people you’ve never met before.
“People who’ve never played the game are, within two or three months, coming down to play every day. It’s so addictive.
“People are getting a little bit obsessed. I’ve noticed Danny Simpson [former Manchester United, Newcastle and Leicester full-back] sneakily coming down here and having private lessons! It’s got competitive. Once you play one game, you want to play again the day after.”
Vaughan first played the game on holiday in Spain and “absolutely loved it”. He chanced upon Kris Ball (The Padel Club CEO and founder) on Instagram a couple of years ago and it didn’t take too much persuasion for him to invest in Ball’s vision for The Padel Club – and persuade a few friends to do the same.
“I drive here at 7am and they’re queueing to get in,” says Vaughan. “When you go the gym there’s that feeling of it being a chore, but when I’m leaving the house at 6.30am to come here and play padel there’s a feeling of genuine excitement. My knee is knackered [from cricket] but when you’re enjoying yourself so much you don’t feel the pain.”
