History, development and evolution of padel

The name ‘padel’ comes from the English word ‘paddle,’ which means ‘shovel’ or ‘racket,’ a term that became part of the Spanish language after it was included in the Dictionary of the Spanish Language (RAE).

The roots of padel can be traced back to earlier racket sports, like platform tennis, which originated in the United States during the 1920s. Platform tennis was played on raised platforms, typically during the winter, and featured heating elements below the deck to melt snow. Similar to padel, it used solid paddles and a surrounding net, but differed significantly in terms of court size and the use of a spongy, rubber ball. These elements may have inspired the basic structure and dynamics of padel, albeit adapted to different climates and settings.

“They tried different balls, observing that the best one turned out to be the tennis ball. Bouncing off the walls made it more fun and fluid,” explains Omar Villavicencio, president of the Mexican padel Federation [FEMEXPADEL].

The export of padel to Spain also had to do with Enrique Corcuera, who, during the summer, invited his aristocratic friends to play with him on his court at Las Brisas. The passage of his friend Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg, real estate developer and founder of the Marbella Club, was key in this expansion. He was responsible for taking it to Spain and introducing it to the Costa del Sol in 1974, building two courts in his hotel-club. These two courts were the first ones built in Spain and, unlike the one at Corcuera’s house, instead of side walls, they had a wire fence.

Between 1980 and 1990, The Marbella Club courts hosted the famous ‘Pro-Am’ tournaments, sponsored by the Smith & Smith stores in Las Arenas (Vizcaya), owned by the man who would become the first president of the International Padel Federation in 1991, Julio Alegría Artiach, one of the most important people in the history of the sport, who established the rules of padel at an international level.

After witnessing its success first hand, in 1975, Julio Menditeguy, an Argentine friend of Alfonso de Hohenlohe, decided to import this new sport to his country. In Argentina, padel gained unprecedented importance, becoming the second most practiced sport.

Names such as Horacio Álvarez Clementi, Cacho Nicastro, and Diógenes de Urquiza, national pioneers, contributed greatly to this exponential development. Additionally, many Argentine polo players who travelled to Spain discovered padel in Marbella and, upon returning to Argentina, became natural ambassadors of this ‘new easy and fun game with cheap facilities’.

In 1988, with Oscar ‘Cacho’ Nicastro at the helm, the Argentine Paddle Association (APA) was founded. Nicastro, who became the president of the Association, looking to give an international boost to the game, reached an agreement to organize the first matches between Spain and Argentina, giving rise to another of the great moments in the history of international padel.

In addition to Argentina, padel quickly spread to other countries in the American continent, such as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay. Likewise, its extension in Europe is a fact in countries such as Sweden, Italy, United Kingdom, France or Germany, countries in which federations have been emerging, achieving great success in terms of the number of members and construction of facilities. Spain, in this sense, is recognized as the driving force behind padel in Europe.

Padel has witnessed some legendary rivalries that have not only heightened the sport’s drama but also showcased its competitive spirit. As the sport’s main enhancers, both Spain and Argentina have produced the best athletes in padel history. Numbers wise, the most decorated player in the history of padel is, undoubtedly, Argentinian Fernando Belasteguín, who has won more than 200 trophies in his professional career, 165 of which forming an iconic team with Juan Martín Díaz, another legend of this sport.

Together, Belasteguín and Díaz stayed at the top of the world rankings for 13 consecutive seasons. They found their main rivals in Pablo Lima and Juani Mieres, one of the only teams able to beat ‘Bela’ and Díaz during their historic run.

Even though they didn’t achieve the unimaginable level of greatness that ‘Bela’ did, other padel icons worth mentioning are Paquito Navarro – known for his raw talent and showman attributes – Sanyo Gutiérrez, and Maxi Sánchez.

While Belasteguín, Díaz, Mieres, and Lima excelled a few years ago, when strategy determined the way padel was played, a new generation of remarkably fast and explosive athletes is taking over by displaying a faster, more dynamic style of play that certainly keeps strategy in mind, but rewards hard-hitting and high-flying teams that add extra speed and power to their shots and moves on the court.

Women have played a significant role in the growth of padel, with their participation contributing greatly to the sport’s expansion. Female players have not only increased in numbers but have also risen to prominence in international competitions.

Carolina Navarro has been a pivotal figure in women’s padel. Known for her aggressive playing style and strategic acumen, Navarro is the most decorated player in history, having won 100 trophies over the course of her career. Navarro was the top-ranked player for nine consecutive seasons, and a three-time world champion. Her example inspired countless women to take up the sport and led the way for many girls who would become the sport’s current stars.

Alejandra Salazar is certainly one of those athletes. She has won more than 50 titles at the highest level, and climbed to the top of the world ranking four times. Other remarkable women’s padel figures worth mentioning are Icíar Montes (number one in the world for eight years), the Sánchez-Alayeto twins (nicknamed ‘The Atomic Twins’, ranked first in the world for four years), and Gemma Triay.

Following its introduction and booming popularity in Spain, padel began to spread across Europe. Countries like France, Sweden, and especially Italy, are witnessing padel’s skyrocketing growth firsthand. France has rapidly expanded its number of courts and players, particularly appreciating padel’s social aspect and accessibility. Sweden, on the other hand, has developed a strong female scene, with numerous clubs and leagues that cater specifically to women, bolstering female participation and visibility in the sport.

Padel expands its boundaries

Padel has also seen surprising surges in popularity in regions outside its traditional European stronghold. In the Middle East, countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have embraced padel, building luxury padel facilities as part of larger sports and leisure developments. In Asia, countries such as Japan and the Philippines are beginning to incorporate padel into their sports cultures, drawn by its simplicity and the minimal space requirements compared to traditional tennis.