Padel: What is it and why is the racquet sport so popular?

In the 1960s and ’70s, Acapulco was a major holiday destination for Hollywood’s glitterati and that is where padel’s popularity with celebrities began.

American diplomat Henry Kissinger frequently picked up a racquet, as did many of the other high-profile visitors.

The game crossed the Atlantic in 1974 when Prince Alfonso of Spain built two padel courts in Marbella. He had developed a passion for the game after holidaying with the Corcueras.

The following year, padel arrived in Argentina, where it exploded in popularity. But there was one problem: there was no rule book.

Enrique used this to his advantage.

“Enrique wasn’t getting any younger, so he changed the rules to win matches. He was the inventor, so we couldn’t complain,” Viviana says.

Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, the sport continued to grow at pace. The introduction of transparent walls meant that spectators, commentators and cameras could view the whole courts.

The world’s first international tournament – the Corcuera Cup – took place in Mexico in 1991, followed by the first World Championship in Spain the next year.

Players now include a number of Premier League footballers, with new courts in Manchester visited by Manchester United stars who have been known to record their visits on social media.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) describes padel as “the fastest-growing sport in the world”, and as “an innovative form of tennis”.

At the end of 2023, the LTA said there were 350 courts available in Great Britain, with the number rapidly rising, while Sport England said over 50,000 people played padel at least once in England in the year to November 2023.