Padel’s Explosive Growth in France: From Niche Sport to National Obsession
A former top-20 French player has traded competition for coaching, embodying a new generation fueling the padel boom across France. Today, Baptiste Moura coaches at the Buenavista Padel Club, located on the right bank of Bordeaux, and represents the growing passion for the sport throughout the hexagone.
Padel, a rapidly expanding sport, is often described as a hybrid between tennis and squash. “You could say it’s a small tennis court, but it’s above all a clever blend of tennis and squash,” Moura explains, describing a sport that was largely unkown just a few years ago. Originating in Mexico – with stories ranging from improvised courts on boats to a frustrated tennis player seeking to avoid chasing errant balls – padel has as captivated Europe, and especially France.
The numbers tell a compelling story of growth. the number of padel players has doubled in just three years. Over the past decade, the number of courts has surged from 106 to nearly 3,000, and the number of clubs has grown from 50 to over 1,000. In 2022,there were 400,000 padel players in France; that number now stands at 800,000.
Moura attributes this surge in popularity to the game’s inherent accessibility and social nature. “It’s hyper-fun,” he says. “You have fun very quickly, even without having played tennis. With four players, it’s sociable, accessible, and afterwards, you can share a drink. There’s that unifying aspect.”
Despite the rapid ascent,some question whether padel’s popularity is merely a fleeting trend. Moura dismisses this notion emphatically. “People were already telling me in 2019 that it was a fad.Yet, the numbers have exploded. Today, demand exceeds supply. Reserving a court is sometimes a mission impractical.”
For Moura, padel is here to stay. He sees the sport as a return to the simple pleasures of athletics, reminiscent of tennis in the 1980s. “I didn’t experience them, but I’m frequently enough told about them. padel is a bit like that: game, connection, and pleasure.”
Padel falls under the jurisdiction of the French Tennis Federation, and local clubs can be found thru the Nouvelle-Aquitaine tennis league.
Why is padel growing in France? Padel’s popularity in France is surging due to its accessibility,social nature,and ease of learning.Unlike tennis, players don’t need years of training to enjoy a competitive game. The smaller court size and use of walls also make it more forgiving and fun for beginners.
Who is driving this growth? Former professional tennis players like Baptiste Moura are contributing to the growth by transitioning into coaching roles and promoting the sport. The French tennis Federation also plays a key role in overseeing and supporting padel clubs.
What is padel? Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It’s played on a smaller court enclosed by walls, allowing players to utilize the walls as part of the game. It’s typically played in doubles, making it a social and engaging activity.
How did this growth happen? The number of padel players in France has doubled in three years, rising from 400,000 in
