Padel, a racquet sport that was born in Mexico, has crossed borders and captured fans from all over the world, especially in Europe. Here’s why you should join the phenomenon
Novak Djokovic set another incredible record in the history of men’s singles tennis on Sunday by winning an unprecedented 23rd Grand Slam title by defeating Casper Rudd at Roland Garros. But there are those who predict that the sport could soon be overtaken in scale and popularity by paddle tennis. Have you heard of him?
Padel is a doubles racquet discipline Combines elements of tennis and squashIt is played on a small court with glass walls and an under-netting.
In recent years, its popularity has skyrocketed It is the fastest growing racquet sport in the world.
Celebrities like David Beckham, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Sylvain Wiltord and Neymar have jumped on the paddle bandwagon. Even Jürgen Klopp, the manager of the Liverpool Football Club, could not resist and set up a stadium in his training ground.
but, Despite his remarkable rise to fame, not many of us know about this sports sensation. That’s why we spoke with Sandy Farquharson, founder of The Padel School, a popular educational platform on the cutting edge of the sport.
With Sandy’s experience and deep knowledge of Padel, ** we’ve put together a complete guide covering all essential aspects of the game. ** Now let’s start our journey from the beginning of the game
What is the origin of tennis?
The game of paddle tennis was born in the sunny city of Acapulco (Mexico) at the end of the sixtiesAt the hands of a wealthy man named Enrique Corcuera He had a passion for tennis but lacked the space to build a proper court on his property.
Determined to enjoy the sport, he came up with the idea of building a smaller court surrounded by walls to keep the ball in play. Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg, a Spanish friend of Corqueira’s, had the opportunity to try out the new padel invention in Enrique’s house and was immediately captivated by the sport.
Inspired by his ** experience, Alfonso took the initiative and built the first two paddle tennis courts in a tennis club in Marbella (Spain) in 1974. ** Paddle quickly gained popularity in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay.
in the past decade, The game of paddle tennis has experienced a thriving expansion on a global scale, Its popularity has spread to other European countries, such as Sweden, France, Italy, and more recently, the United Kingdom.
What are the rules of tennis?
Paddle tennis is a pairs game, usually played with four players on a court approximately 25-30% smaller than a standard tennis court.
The sport largely follows the rules of traditional tennis, with some notable differences.
On the serve, the ball must bounce off the ground and hit below hip height.
The glass walls inside the game, Allowing players to use it strategically. For example, “You can hit the ball into your glass to go to the other side of the net,” explains Sandy, from Paddle School.
After serving, the ball must bounce once on the receiving side before it is returned. Padel’s record is pretty much the same as regular tennis (eg Love-15-30-40-Game), however, In the professional ring, the “golden point” is used to break the demon and determine the winner of the match.
Albadal or pickled?
You may have come across the pickleball and noticed its similarity to paddle tennis.. Although both are versions of mini tennis, these two sports have distinct differences.
Pickleball, popular in the United States, is played on a smaller court, without glass walls, and using a plastic ball, creating a unique playing experience, unlike paddle tennis.
Sandy explains: “Although pickleball is very different, the reasons for its popularity are the same. It’s easy to start playing, it’s so social, because you can play singles or doubles, and you’re so close.”
Why has tennis become one of the fastest growing sports in the world?
Sandy attributes the huge rise in the sport’s popularity to several key factors. in the first place, It highlights that one of the main drivers of its rapid growth is its inherent ease of learning.
“You can go play with three other friends and have fun, and there are no technical barriers to entry. In tennis, for example, you have to learn a complex technique, like serve, before you can play. With tennis you can immediately start playing with your friends and have a fairly competitive match, even if not everyone has the same level,” he explains.
It also highlights it The game is compatible with players who are looking for a permanent activity, Seduce those willing to invest the time and effort to master the ins and outs of the sport.
“It’s a challenge for me as an ex-tennis player and someone who has played paddle board for ten yearsAnd I can take on a really tough tactical game,” says Sandy.
Another significant incentive for its expansion lies in the wide endorsement it has received from famous celebrities over the past decade.Like Andy Murray, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
When icons like them are linked, why are you being left out?
As Sandy promised: “If you didn’t enjoy your first experience with a tennis racket, you’d be the first person I meet to feel that way.”
Take a look at the video above to see our conversation with Sandy, from Padel School.
“Lifelong travel trailblazer. Food nerd. Award-winning music enthusiast. Twitter guru.”