History of padel sport is not just about rackets, courts, and players—it’s a story of invention, passion, and global transformation. From its humble birth in a Mexican backyard to its current status as one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, padel has carved a unique path through the world of modern athletics.
Table of Contents
1: A Wall Between Tennis and Imagination
Not all revolutions begin with a manifesto. Some begin with a wall and a shortage of space.
In 1969, in the luxurious hillsides of Acapulco, Mexico, a man named Enrique Corcuera had a problem. He loved tennis—but his home didn’t have the space for a full court. Instead of giving up, he innovated. He built a small, enclosed court, bordered by walls. And from that improvisation, he created a new game.
At the time, he didn’t know it. He simply wanted to play. But what Corcuera built wasn’t just a smaller tennis court—it was the birthplace of padel.
He called it “Paddle Corcuera,” but fate had different plans.
2: A Prince, A Club, A Spark
Thousands of miles away, in Spain, a prince stumbled upon the game that would change his world.
Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe, a jet-setting aristocrat and founder of the prestigious Marbella Club, visited Corcuera in the early 1970s. He played the game, fell in love instantly, and brought it back to his Mediterranean haven. In 1974, the first two padel courts in Europe were built on Spanish soil.
But this was no ordinary introduction. Marbella, frequented by celebrities, tycoons, and royals, became the launchpad for padel’s European journey. It wasn’t long before the whispers of this “new tennis with walls” became shouts across the continent.
3: The Argentine Revolution
If Spain was padel’s red carpet, then Argentina was its engine.
In the 1980s, Argentina adopted padel not as a novelty—but as a national passion. It spread through the neighborhoods like wildfire. More than 10,000 padel courts appeared across the country within a decade. Padel wasn’t just a sport; it became a movement.
From factory workers to football stars, everyone played. Children played after school. Adults played after work. It became the social glue that connected communities.
In a country already obsessed with sports, padel became second only to football. It was affordable, fun, and communal. Argentina gave padel what it needed most: people power.
4: Birth of the Game’s Global Identity
For padel to become a true sport, it needed more than passion. It needed structure.
In 1991, the International Padel Federation (FIP) was founded in Madrid. For the first time, padel had rules recognized across borders, a calendar of competitions, and a plan for the future.
One year later, the first Padel World Championship took place. Nations like Spain, Argentina, and Uruguay sent teams. And though it lacked the TV lights and massive crowds of modern sports, something bigger was forming: a global identity.
Now, padel had roots in both hemispheres—and its growth became unstoppable.
5: The World Padel Tour and the Age of Stars
Fast forward to the 2010s, and padel entered a new era: the era of spectacle.
In 2013, the World Padel Tour (WPT) was born. With polished branding, global sponsorships, and streaming platforms broadcasting matches, padel now had its center stage. It was no longer an underdog sport—it was a mainstream challenger.
Players like Fernando Belasteguín, Alejandra Salazar, and Juan Lebrón became icons. Their faces graced billboards, their matches drew thousands in arenas and millions online. The rallies, the dives, the rebounds off glass walls—they made padel a game people wanted to watch.
And as visibility grew, so did participation.
6: Asia’s Quiet Ascent
While Europe and Latin America celebrated padel’s rise, a quiet transformation was happening in the East.
Asia, long dominated by badminton and table tennis, began opening its arms to padel. Countries like Japan, India, and Indonesia started seeing padel not as a rival, but as an addition—a bridge between fun and fitness.
In Indonesia, interest has grown among urban professionals and young athletes. Indoor sports clubs, resorts, and schools are beginning to see the opportunity in padel. With limited land but dense populations, compact sports like padel fit perfectly into modern Southeast Asian cities.
And with support from developers like Raga Sport, professional-grade courts are being built faster than ever.
7: Building the Future, One Court at a Time
Padel’s growth isn’t driven just by fame—it’s powered by infrastructure.
Modern padel courts are high-tech marvels:
- Steel-framed structures
- Tempered glass walls
- UV-resistant synthetic turf
- LED lighting for nighttime matches
Companies like Raga Sport have pioneered turnkey court construction—transforming blank spaces into elite-level padel arenas. Whether for hotels, schools, or private homes, the construction of quality courts is what fuels long-term growth.
Padel is no longer about a single backyard in Mexico—it’s about global access.
8. Beyond the Horizon The Olympic Dream
With over 90 countries playing padel and millions of players worldwide, there’s one destination left: the Olympic Games.
The movement to include padel in the Olympics by 2032 is gaining momentum. National federations are aligning. Youth programs are expanding. Media support is rising.
If accepted, padel won’t just be a sport—it’ll be a global symbol of innovation, community, and joy.
And just maybe, the next world champion is a kid hitting balls off the wall in a rooftop court in Jakarta.
Conclusion: A Sport That Broke Its Own Boundaries
The history of padel sport isn’t just a timeline—it’s a testament to human creativity and connection.
From the narrow garden of a Mexican innovator to stadiums packed with cheering fans, padel has never stopped evolving. It challenges conventions, embraces diversity, and thrives on the energy of people playing together.
So, the next time you step onto a padel court, remember—you’re not just playing a game. You’re becoming part of a story that began with a wall, a paddle, and a brilliant idea.
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