What is Padel

Originally played in Mexico in 1969, padel is a dynamic racquet sport that is a blend of tennis and squash.  Frequently described as “the fastest-growing sport in the world” padel is now played in 110 countries.

Padel combines all the best elements of tennis, squash and badminton in an enclosed space that is slightly smaller than a regular tennis court.  Usually, padel is played in doubles team format and the scoring is the same as tennis.   The balls can bounce off the back and side walls allowing for unexpected bounces and exciting rallies.

Padel has flourished internationally in the last ten years, in particular.  The sport has experienced significant growth in Europe and the Middle East.  Spain, Sweden, Italy, England, France, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all seen substantial investments in new courts in the past five years.

Padel was featured for the first time at the 2023 European Games.  The International Olympic Committee has designated padel a ‘Recognized International Sport’ and will be monitoring its growth with a view to considering it for inclusion in future Olympic Games.

In Canada, Calgary first had padel courts in 1993 and had been the site of the only courts until 2021.  In the past five years, however, new courts have been built in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa.  More and more Canadians are now discovering — and quickly developing a passion for — this dynamic game.

​Padel is growing worldwide under the International Padel Federation.