Stroke of Genius: How Padel Is Taking the World by Storm

Easy to learn, highly sociable, great fun and super-inclusive, padel is the racket sport that’s taking the world by storm. A report from the International Padel Federation shows a 240% increase in the number of courts opening in Europe over the past three years. There are now 60,000 around the world, with almost 30 million people in 130 countries regularly picking up a racket. If you haven’t played yet, chances are that a court will be coming soon to a space near you.

Padel combines elements of tennis and squash – without the technicalities of a tennis serve. It’s typically played in doubles on an enclosed court, often outdoors, with a hard racket and a soft ball. And because it takes up only half as much space as a tennis court, resorts facing heightened demand from eager players are increasingly switching to padel. Developments putting in padel courts for active residents range from Albany in the Bahamas to The Whiteley in central London. 

“Padel is so easy to pick up and play,” says Josh Roberts, a sales executive with QP Savills in Portugal’s Algarve, who has become a firm fan of the sport. “The social aspect is equally important – it’s a great way to meet people. I’d never heard of it before I moved to the Algarve in June 2020, but the growth of opportunities to play just in this area has been dramatic.”

There are 11 padel courts in the long-established leisure resort of Quinta do Lago, a nine-mile drive from Faro airport – in the new gated community of One Green Way, developers decided to put in two padel courts rather than a tennis court. The neighbouring resort of Vale do Lobo, home to one of the largest tennis facilities in Portugal, started out with three padel courts and is now adding a further three.

The sport can be played by all age groups – grandparents pair up with grandchildren to take on challengers. “Many older people have replaced their usual cardio workouts with padel because it is so much more fun,” says Roberts. “You see players of all ages at The Campus, the sports centre at Quinta do Lago, joining in club evenings then enjoying a drink together afterwards. The regular Tuesday and Thursday sessions are always oversubscribed.”

Padel courts are becoming an essential facility in new resorts, too. On the wide, sandy beaches of Portugal’s western coastline near Comporta, an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, Spatia Melides is a 170-hectare site with four padel courts, three restaurants, a gym, communal and private pools, a spa and a beach club. Three-bedroom open-plan residences start at €3,990,000 (£3,361,375).

Mexico claims to be the place where padel was invented, back in the 1960s, but the epicentre of the sport is undoubtedly Spain. The country currently has 3.7 million padel players – the highest number in the world – and 3,800 clubs. 

Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, owner of the elite Marbella Club, built the first padel court in 1974, and the sport has long influenced real-estate sales in the area, according to Verónica Castilla González, Costa del Sol sales director at Savills Spain.

“Marbella’s superb climate and outdoor lifestyle mean that there has always been strong demand for sports facilities, and padel courts are joining golf courses and tennis courts as something homeowners value highly,” she says. “The Marbella area has 14 padel clubs – including Real Club Padel Marbella – with a total of 80 courts.

“Some of the best facilities are at Puente Romano, a prestigious beachfront resort with a five-star hotel on the Golden Mile, where Savills has homes for sale. The Tennis Centre has four padel courts, and sporting superstars who have played there include John McEnroe and Andy Murray.” Perhaps a new career in the Spanish sun beckons for the newly retired Scottish player.

Main image: playing padel in the sun (Alamy)