Padel

Padel ( ) is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is usually played in doubles (2 vs 2) on a small enclosed court with glass and mesh walls that are part of the game. It has the same scoring system as tennis, but adapted rules, e.g. regarding the use of the walls and fences or the nature of the rackets (which are solid (without strings) and perforated). Balls can be played off the court walls, similar to squash. A serve must be played as an under-arm serve which is hit at or below the waist level. Padel originated in Mexico in 1969. It became very popular in Spain and Latin American countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay. As of 2025, there were more than 35 million active players in more than 150 countries, according to the International Padel Federation (FIP). In 2023, the global padel market was valued at approximately €2 billion. Since 1992, the Padel World Championship has been held every two years, and each final has featured Argentina alongside either Spain or Brazil in both the male and female tournaments.

Padel ( ) is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is usually played in doubles (2 vs 2) on a small enclosed court with glass and mesh walls that are part of the game. It has the same scoring system as tennis, but adapted rules, e.g. regarding the use of the walls and fences or the nature of the rackets (which are solid (without strings) and perforated). Balls can be played off the court walls, similar to squash. A serve must be played as an under-arm serve which is hit at or below the waist level. Padel originated in Mexico in 1969. It became very popular in Spain and Latin American countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay. As of 2025, there were more than 35 million active players in more than 150 countries, according to the International Padel Federation (FIP). In 2023, the global padel market was valued at approximately €2 billion. Since 1992, the Padel World Championship has been held every two years, and each final has featured Argentina alongside either Spain or Brazil in both the male and female tournaments.

France

France has emerged as a key growth market for padel in Europe, where the sport is officially managed by the French Tennis Federation (FFT). As of 2025, the country is estimated to have 800,000 players and 4,000 courts in 2025. The player base is predominantly male, typically aged between 30 and 50, with many having a background in tennis.

Asia

In Aug 2013, the Swiss Club in Singapore opened the first padel court in Singapore, making it the first in Asia. Since 2022, Indonesia—particularly Bali—has experienced rapid growth in padel infrastructure, driven by high participation from locals, expatriates, and tourists. Jungle Padel is one of Bali's earliest leading clubs, with branches in Canggu and Ubud. However, the pace of this expansion has led some to question its long-term sustainability, suggesting a future need to prioritize facility quality over quantity. In 2025, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China hosted an international padel championship. This event marked the beginning of China's hosting of padel competitions, and Dezhou has since become a major padel tournament city in China. Padel was selected as an official event for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.

Oceania

Uptake of padel in Oceania has been limited. In January, 2016, the first padel courts in Oceania were opened in Sydney.

Australia

As of April 2026 there are 23 registered padel clubs in Australia with are approximately 100 courts in total. This includes: four clubs each of the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth; one in each of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, the Gold Coast, Albury, and Coffs Harbour. The governing body is Padel Australia. Padel has also been supported by Tennis Australia which aims to grow its popularity. At the 2022 Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam tournament a pop-up padel court was erected for public access and exhibition games, while in 2023 the first "Australian Padel Open" was held alongside the Australian Open tennis near to the tennis centre court at Rod Laver Arena.

New Zealand

The first padel court in New Zealand was opened in October, 2023, with a single court in Auckland at a suburban sporting and tennis club. A court at a second club in Auckland was under construction, with plans for courts in other cities. A national governing body, Padel New Zealand, was established, with plans to run national and international competitions. New Zealand's first indoor padel center, Padel House, has opened in Wellington, offering three doubles and one singles court. , Cape Town]]

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377995425 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.