The History of Padel: From Royal Beginnings to Global Phenomenon
Padel, a fast-paced sport blending elements of tennis and squash, has seen an extraordinary rise in popularity across the world in recent decades. From its royal beginnings to its status as a global sporting phenomenon, the history of padel is an interesting journey of innovation, expansion, and cultural adoption.
The Origins of Padel
Padel’s history can be traced back to the late 1960s, with the invention of the sport credited to a Spanish entrepreneur named Enrique Corcuera. In 1969, Corcuera built a court at his home in Marbella, Spain, which was specifically designed to combine the best elements of tennis and squash. The court had walls, like a squash court, but was smaller than a traditional tennis court. Corcuera and his friends began experimenting with a game that would eventually evolve into modern padel.
Initially, the sport was played with wooden rackets, and the scoring system was similar to that of tennis. The enclosed court and the ability to play off the walls, akin to squash, made the game more accessible and engaging. Padel was intended to be a more social and less physically demanding alternative to tennis, offering a great blend of strategy, agility, and fun.
Royal Endorsement and Early Growth
The game began to gain traction in the 1970s, especially after the royal family of Spain showed interest in the sport. Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg, a prominent Spanish aristocrat, was one of the first to see the potential of padel. He constructed the first public padel court at the Marbella Club in 1974, and soon the sport caught the attention of Spain’s elite. The royal connection helped establish padel as a fashionable pastime among Spain’s wealthy class.
In 1975, the first official padel club was founded in Spain, marking a significant step in the sport’s development. The first competitive padel tournaments were also organized in the mid-1970s, with the inaugural Spanish Padel Championship taking place in 1975.
International Expansion
By the 1980s, padel was beginning to spread beyond Spain. It first took root in neighboring countries such as France and Italy. The 1980s and 1990s saw the establishment of padel clubs and international tournaments in Latin American countries, including Argentina and Mexico. These nations soon became some of the sport's biggest supporters and players, with Argentina in particular becoming a world powerhouse in padel.
In the early 2000s, padel began to experience exponential growth. The sport was introduced in countries like Sweden, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Major tournaments, such as the World Padel Tour (WPT), were founded, bringing the best players from around the globe into the limelight. Padel's rise in popularity was supported by its accessibility, easy learning curve, and its appeal to a broad range of age groups and skill levels.
Padel today
Today, padel is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide. According to the International Padel Federation (FIP), more than 20 million people now play the sport across over 90 countries, with the largest concentration of players in Spain and Argentina. The sport has also become increasingly popular in the Middle East, Scandinavia, and the United States.
Several factors contribute to padel’s ongoing global rise. The sport is relatively inexpensive to play, and it is easily adaptable for indoor and outdoor settings. It requires less space than tennis, making it ideal for urban environments. In addition, padel’s emphasis on fun, social interaction, and teamwork has made it a favorite for players of all ages.