Padel

Padel (Spanish: pádel) 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.