By Uday Jagat
The sporting world seldom leaves a vacuum for long. As tennis bids adieu to its golden generation—with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retired, and Novak Djokovic still clinging on at 36—some fundamental questions regarding its future are looming large. While the likes of prodigies such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have given glimpses of greatness, they are yet to seal their status as enduring legends. Amid this uncertainty, another racquet sport has been quietly rising to fill the void: padel. A combination of tennis and squash, padel has taken the sports world by storm, offering a cheaper, easier, and more sociable alternative to traditional tennis. Padel has rapidly gained popularity among celebrities, with many not only playing the sport but also investing in its growth. Icons such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and even Nadal himself have been spotted on padel courts. David Beckham, known for his regular cameos at the Wimbledon Royal Box, has even backed the creation of padel clubs and tournaments. Celebrities are not just playing for leisure; many are becoming ambassadors, sponsoring events, and investing in padel academies, contributing to the sport’s global expansion and increasing its visibility in mainstream media. Padel’s skyrocketing popularity is quickly leading to economic shifts in its share in the sports market, along with increased media attention and questions about its place in the broader sports ecosystem.
Padel’s rise has been meteoric. In Spain, where the sport originated, it is already the second- most popular sport behind football. The sport has also exploded across Latin America and southern Europe, and it is now making significant inroads into northern Europe and the UK. Padel’s global infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with court numbers projected to nearly double by 2026. Currently, there are over 47,000 courts worldwide, and this figure is expected to reach approximately 84,000 within the next few years. Padel club revenues have surged to around €1.775 billion as of 2023, with projections to triple in value, reaching €4.015 billion by 2026. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the governing body for tennis in the UK, has taken notice. Over the past year, the LTA has increased its investment in padel, recognising the sport’s potential to attract new audiences and generate revenue. New courts are being constructed at a rapid pace, not just in leisure centres and private clubs but also in public parks. The LTA’s decision to incorporate padel into its development plans signals a broader recognition of the sport’s staying power.
Padel’s success exemplifies a broader trend in the evolution of sports, where ease of play, accessibility, and social engagement are becoming as important as the athletic prowess required. In this sense, padel’s growth parallels other emerging sports like pickleball, which similarly emphasize fun and social interaction over physical intensity. Globally, traditional tennis clubs are integrating padel courts, sometimes reallocating tennis courts for the sport, creating a ripple effect within tennis infrastructures. Earlier this year, Djokovic warned the media that this new offshoot is threatening to take tennis’ crown as the “king or queen of racquet sports”, endangering grassroots tennis with its simplicity as courts are being torn down and replaced by those catering to popular variations of the sport. Some tennis clubs report declining tennis memberships as players are drawn to padel, which is seen as easier to play and more sociable. The rise of padel has started to impact tennis in terms of revenue, primarily through the redirection of resources, attention, and infrastructure toward the newer sport. Courts can be squeezed into smaller spaces, making them easier to build in urban areas, and the cost of equipment—rackets, balls, and shoes—remains relatively modest. These factors have converged to make padel a sport of the masses, rather than the elite, creating a wave of grassroots enthusiasm that tennis has struggled to replicate. This has been particularly notable in Spain, with some clubs allocating up to 40% of their facilities to padel. Djokovic’s fears have also extended to professional tennis sooner than many would have expected, as seen in the men’s final at the US Open, featuring heavyweights Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz, which saw a 31% drop compared to the previous year. While the drop cannot be solely pinned on padel, the growing popularity of padel among younger and recreational players has significantly contributed to the fragmentation of tennis audiences.
As padel continues to gain momentum, discussions about its future as an official sport are intensifying. The International Padel Federation (FIP) is working to formalise the sport’s global governance, and there are even whispers of padel becoming an Olympic sport in the near future. If padel grows along its current trajectory, it could follow the path of sports like beach volleyball and snowboarding, which similarly transitioned from niche activities to mainstream Olympic events. The inclusion of padel in major multi-sport competitions would provide a significant boost to its profile and likely accelerate its expansion into new markets. The future looks bright for padel, but challenges remain. The sport will need to balance its grassroots appeal with the demands of commercialisation and professionalisation. As padel courts continue to proliferate and professional circuits become more lucrative, the sport will need to navigate the pressures of maintaining its accessibility while building an elite tier of competition. How it manages this balance will determine whether padel remains a sport for the masses or becomes a victim of its own success.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own, and may not reflect the opinions of The St Andrews Economist.
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