UMVA has learned that a rapidly growing trend is sweeping across London, with padel courts popping up in every corner of the city.
This sport, a fusion of tennis and squash, has taken London by storm, with its unique blend of social interaction and competitive play. I joined British padel star Sam Jones at the helm of the sport's meteoric rise to experience the hype firsthand.
Padel's ascent has been breathtaking, with the number of courts in the UK growing from just 68 in 2019 to over 1,500 across more than 500 venues. The London scene is driving the sport's growth, with 860,000 players taking to the courts.
As an experienced tennis player, I walked onto the new court at House of Raquet in north London, confident that these two sports could hardly be any different. But I was wrong - a padel court is smaller, surrounded by walls made from glass and metal mesh, and the racket is shorter and lighter.
The game itself revolves around long rallies, with the ball rebounding off walls and players trying to set up clever angles. Sam Jones, 26, switched from tennis to padel after a court appeared at his local sports centre when he was 14, and within a year, he was playing the sport full-time.
Sam explained that padel is an inclusive sport, where anyone can play regardless of their level, and it's not just about competition - it's also about having fun. The rallies are always long, and it's a great way to meet new people.
Spain is the capital of Padel, with over 20,000 courts and an estimated six million active players. The sport is also popular in Mexico, Argentina, and other Latin American countries, and now it's spreading across the world.
Sam turned pro and reached a world ranking of 162 in 2024, becoming the British number two and representing his country more than a dozen times. He moved back home last year and has seen the rise in padel's popularity in the UK, saying it's been 'crazy'.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a new club opens approximately every two and a half hours worldwide, with the UK being a key part of that growth. Padel has become one of the world's top three padel markets.
Avid player Oliver Preston says padel is 'more than just a sport', it's a social phenomenon. People are using padel to meet others romantically, for business, and to make new connections.
Preston has started up a new app called Seed to bring the game's legion of players into one 'ecosystem'. The app combines a booking system with social chats, virtual coaching, and the option to upload videos of matches.
Seed will let players book courts and join social hubs to make the most of the new friendships and connections they form while playing. The app aims to support padel's growth and help the community of players speak to each other.
