How padel became the must-play sport of 2024

It may still be relatively little-known about, but the emerging racquet sport of padel is rapidly increasing in popularity in the south of England.

A new purpose-built centre with six courts has opened in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Padel - a blend of tennis and squash - was invented in Mexico in 1969 and there are now said to be 30 million players across the world.

Andy Knee, chief executive of Padelstars, the company behind the facility at Trojans Club in Eastleigh, said it was "easy to pick up and hyper-social".

Padel is primarily played in doubles and uses the same scoring system as tennis, only on a slightly smaller court.

Like squash, the court is enclosed and players can hit the ball against the walls to give the game a different dynamic.

The racquet has a solid, firm face, rather than strings, with holes designed to create resistance when striking the ball.

The balls are similar to tennis balls but are smaller and have a slightly lower air pressure.

Although still in its infancy in the UK, there are now over 450 padel courts throughout this country - a six-fold increase since 2019.

Mr Knee first came across it 20 years ago while working in Barcelona.

He set up Padelstars in 2022 to build courts and help develop the sport in the UK.

"It's a mix of great exercise, its easy to pick up and its hyper-social and its clear to see why people are taking to it in increasing numbers," he said.

A lot of first-time players cite the game's simple rules as its main attraction.

Coach James Andreotti said it was an easy game for beginners to pick up.

He said: "I think the entry level is much lower than tennis.

"It takes years to become a beginner at that, but with padel I can have people playing to a good level within hours. That's what I think draws people to playing."

Player Becky Davis described it as a game that "anybody can play".

"I love the fact that it's doubles so it's much more sociable than tennis.

"You're always with your partner, you're always close together and it's a really fun environment on court."

The enjoyment factor was echoed by fellow player, Phillip Emptage. He says it provides perfect exercise, adding, "My wife would say I'm obsessed with it, and I think she's right!"

There are now more than 450 padel courts throughout the UK - a six-fold increase since 2019.

UK Padel has a list of venues and clubs where the sport, which is governed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is played.

There are currently more than 10 multi-court venues in Hampshire, Dorset, Oxford and Berkshire.

Padel was originally created by Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera and his wife, Viviana, at their holiday home in Acapulco

He adding walls of up to four metres on each side to prevent balls from escaping onto neighbouring land.

It spread to Spain and eventually to Argentina where its popularity took off and there are now more than two million licenced players.

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