Padel is a racket sport played predominantly in doubles on an enclosed court, combining elements of tennis and squash where the ball can be played off the surrounding walls.
Lets take a look at everything you need to know about the rise of padel, the fastest growing sport in the UK.
1960s - Origin in Acapulco
Padel was invented in 1969 at Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico, by Enrique Corcuera, who lacked sufficient space in his backyard for a full-sized tennis court.
Corcuera created a smaller court measuring 20 x 10 meters, enclosed by 3-metre walls and featuring a central tennis net, establishing the world's first padel court.
The initial set of rules for the sport was devised by Corcuera's wife, Viviana, a former Miss Argentina, who presented them to him as a birthday gift.
The key differences between Padel and Tennis
1970s - Spreading the Game
Padel was introduced to Spain in the early 1970s by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe, who built courts at the Marbella Club Hotel in Andalusia after experiencing the sport in Acapulco.
Concurrently, Julio Menditeguy, an Argentine member of Prince Alfonso's tennis club, brought padel to Argentina.
The sport's early presence in Argentina was marked by the construction of courts at Club Tortugas, Mar del Plata Ocean Club, and various other locations across the country.
1980s - Global Expansion Begins
Padel expanded internationally during the 1980s to countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, France, the United States, and Canada, with the world's first national association, the Asociación Padel Argentino, being founded in 1988.
The first international competition between Spain and Argentina took place in January 1988 in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province.
In 1989, coach Jorge Galeotti introduced the Crystal Palace, the first detachable and transportable glass court, which was crucial for the sport's international expansion.
1990s - Rules Unified
The International Padel Federation (FIP) was founded in Madrid on 12 July 1991 by the Argentine, Spanish, and Uruguayan padel associations, leading to the establishment of the biennial World Padel Championships, with the first edition held in Spain in 1992.
To address varying rules across countries, Spain and Argentina agreed in Barcelona in 1997 to unify the rules and officially standardise the sport's name to "Padel," a change from the previous "Paddle" used in Argentina.
By the close of the 1990s, the sport had seen significant growth, with 11 national padel federations established, comprising five in Europe and six in the Americas.
2000s - Pro Tour Launch
The inaugural World Junior Championship was held in La Plata, Argentina, in 2000, transitioning from an annual to a biennial event from 2003 onwards.
During this period, seven new national federations were established, comprising six in Europe and the Australian federation.
In 2005, the Padel Pro Tour (PPT), the first international professional circuit, was launched by private organisers and continued for eight seasons.
2010s - Federation Boom
The number of national padel federations affiliated with the FIP grew significantly worldwide throughout the 2010s, exceeding 40 by the decade's end, supported by the FIP's launch of its international circuit (later renamed the CUPRA FIP Tour in 2020) to foster global growth.
The Padel Pro Tour (PPT) was succeeded by the World Padel Tour (WPT), which operated from 2013 to 2023.
The first Senior World Championship was held in Estepona/Benahavís, Málaga, Spain, in 2018.
2020s - Premier Padel
Padel has experienced significant global expansion, with FIP affiliations growing to 100 federations by 2026, the sport being played in over 150 countries, and approximately 35 million amateur players worldwide.
By 2023, FIP had already achieved a milestone of 70 affiliated federations and hosted more than 160 international tournaments.
The professional landscape saw the establishment of Premier Padel in 2022, which became the official global professional tour governed by FIP and supported by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), expanding to feature 24 tournaments in 16 countries by 2024.
FIP has introduced new circuits to foster talent development and amateur participation, including the FIP Promises youth circuit (launched 2021, with an Under 12 category added in 2025 and Continental Tours in 2026), the FIP Beyond circuit for amateurs (launched April 2026), and the official recognition and governance of the team-based Hexagon World Series.
Here is everything you need to know about How to Play Padel
