Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world today, played by millions across Europe, Latin America, and increasingly the rest of the globe. With its glass walls, compact court, and fast-paced rallies, padel blends elements of tennis and squash into a unique and social game. But while the sport now fills professional arenas and international tournaments, its origins are surprisingly humble - starting with a simple backyard idea in Mexico.
A Creative Beginning in Mexico
Padel was invented in 1969 by Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera in the coastal city of Acapulco, Mexico. Corcuera loved tennis, but the space available at his home was too small to build a full tennis court. Instead of giving up on the idea, he decided to adapt the game to fit the area he had.
He built a smaller court and surrounded it with walls to prevent the ball from going into the garden or neighbouring properties. These walls soon became part of the gameplay itself, allowing the ball to bounce off them—similar to squash. Corcuera also introduced solid rackets without strings, making the game easier to control in the smaller space.
What began as a practical solution quickly evolved into a brand-new sport.
The Sport Travels to Spain
The next major chapter in padel’s story began when Corcuera’s friend, Spanish prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg, visited Acapulco and tried the new game. Fascinated by its accessibility and fun, he decided to bring the concept back to Spain.
In 1974, Hohenlohe built the first padel courts at the Marbella Club Hotel, introducing the sport to Spanish society. It quickly became popular among locals and visitors alike, especially because it was easier to learn than tennis and highly social.
Expansion to Argentina and Beyond
Another key figure in padel’s early growth was Julio Menditengui, an Argentine friend of Hohenlohe. After playing in Spain, Menditengui brought the sport to Argentina in the late 1970s.
Argentina embraced padel with incredible enthusiasm. By the 1990s, the country had built thousands of courts and developed a deep competitive culture around the sport. This rapid growth helped transform padel from a recreational pastime into a serious international sport.
Organizing the Global Game
As the sport spread, formal organizations emerged to standardize rules and promote competitions. One of the most important governing bodies today is the International Padel Federation, which oversees international tournaments and the development of the sport worldwide.
Professional circuits have also emerged, most notably the World Padel Tour, which has showcased many of the sport’s top players and helped bring padel to a global television audience.
Why Padel Became So Popular
Several factors explain padel’s rapid rise:
- Easy to learn – Beginners can enjoy rallies quickly without advanced technique.
- Social gameplay – It’s typically played in doubles, making it highly interactive.
- Compact courts – Courts require less space than tennis, making them easier to build in cities.
- Dynamic rallies – The walls add strategic depth and exciting rebounds.
Because of these qualities, padel clubs have expanded rapidly across countries such as Spain, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
A Sport with a Bright Future
From a private court in Acapulco to professional tournaments around the world, padel’s journey reflects how a simple idea can grow into a global phenomenon. Today, the sport continues to expand into new markets, attract investment, and inspire new players every year.
What started as Enrique Corcuera’s creative solution to a small backyard problem has become a worldwide sport enjoyed by millions - proof that innovation in sport sometimes begins in the most unexpected places.
