Editor’s note: Today’s guest article comes from someone who is truly a well-traveled “student of the game” (in every possible sense of the phrase) when it comes to padel — rather than just an overly optimistic cheerleader for the sport or a mouthpiece for P.R. hype. In my mind, this is both very refreshing and very needed in the U.S. padel industry right now.
Case in point, our past few conversations have largely revolved around what he has learned from recent visits to padel clubs and communities in Croatia, Mexico, Serbia, and the United Kingdom, and how it compares to what he sees currently going on in Miami and other potential padel hotbeds around the U.S.
Furthermore, we’ve discussed what he hopes to see and learn on upcoming trips through Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania later this year.
So, while the following piece may paint a slightly less rosy picture of the current state of U.S. padel than some in the media often do (yes, myself included), I think it offers some valuable insights and talking points for those who genuinely care about the growth of the sport here in the U.S.
(Also of note, with the exception of a handful of subheads that were added, the following article is published exactly as it was submitted.)
From Acapulco to America: Pádel’s Growing Potential in the United States and Beyond
By: Gerardo Penchyna Cárdenas
Pádel is a sport unlike any other in the racquet world. Despite showcasing central elements of squash and tennis, pádel stands on its own, boasting superb accessibility and thrilling innovation. The sport’s dynamic and social appeal has captivated the world, and casual enthusiasts and elite performance athletes are already pitching in to unleash its global expansion.
Since its inception in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969, pádel evolved from a niche pastime to a sporting sensation, particularly gaining traction in Spain in the late 1980s. Today, as stated by pádel entrepreneur Marcos Del Pilar, the time is ripe for the sport to become “Americanized.”
Along the same line, Del Pilar’s motto of “making a better world through padel” is beginning to flourish. Pádel’s rise has led to it becoming recognized as the “world’s fastest-growing sport.” That being said, pádel has yet to carve out a footprint in the United States.
More Promise Than Progress?
According to the popularly-used app by players, Playtomic, 2024 was expected to be the “breakthrough year for pádel in the U.S.” Put bluntly, this statement—while fool-proof—was far-fetched. Considering data provided by the same app the North American giant still does not figure amongst the top 15 countries regarding “interest in the sport.”
Moreover, as seen last October at the last World Padel Championship in Doha, Qatar, the United States or Mexico for that matter still do not figure at the international professional stage.
Furthermore, it must be noted that other than in South Florida, namely Miami—a place known worldwide for its influence and passion for tennis—robust buildup for pádel remains absent. The United States is only home to about 450 pádel courts; in contrast, Spain leads with more than 14,000 already in place.
Is Pickleball Really the Problem?
Early assumptions highlight pickleball as the leading cause of the U.S. delay in adopting pádel, more precisely availability, exposure, and affordability—or the lack thereof—stand as better explanations.
To put things into perspective, the United Kingdom, Italy, and even Serbia also signal smashing potential. Nevertheless, such countries—including the United States—still lag behind places like Sweden or Mexico in terms of game play and widespread popularity. Pádel’s growth trajectory is still green, however there is no reason why North Americans can’t excel at this emerging sport, in turn unraveling new waves of
innovation.
To be sure, it still remains unclear if pádel’s adoption across the Americas will be sustainable and as competition-oriented as so far seen elsewhere. While pádel has already changed the racquet world for the better—especially across Spanish-speaking countries, with Argentina and Spain spearheading—business integration methods across North America must be strategically crafted prior to project launch.
Also critical, it continues to be all too common for Americans to attach their exposure and enthusiasm for pickleball to conceive pádel. This is unfortunate since in reality pickleball and pádel share little as racquet sports go. Unlike pickleball, pádel contrasts with tennis in terms of strength, agility, and physical training.
Moreover, the alleged pickleball-tennis “rivalry” reveals little about pádel’s outstanding attributes, how countries have contrasted in the sport’s adoption, and how racquet sports can work in tandem to further incorporation.
The Best Path Forward
There is much ground to cover, and key, targeted focus on the sport’s resilience qualities will prove pivotal to lay out the groundwork for long-term prosperity. In all, triumph means pádel’s adoption at the NCAA university level. While still elusive, this kind of development would revamp the future academic and professional opportunities for hundreds of thousands worldwide, thus expanding the horizon of possibilities for players plus further showcasing the United States as a powerhouse of sporting development.
As underscored by Per Roman—Playtomic’s Chair— pádel’s rallying worldwide success is directly linked to “globalization and the movement of people between countries.” From this, one must then warn that a more inward-looking United States could hinder the sport’s inclusion at a more local level. This is no small matter, pádel could one day be an Olympic sport, and North Americans joining the thrill will
help build more robust international governing bodies.
The Big(ger) Picture
Further, the wider Americas region exhibits notable potential to integrate pádel and contribute to its global adoption. Caribbean countries—which increasingly signal more promising economic dynamism than hemispheric counterparts in both North America and South America—could greatly benefit by riding the momentum of an accelerating wave of expansion across “Western” countries.
Regional epicenters for the sport are only beginning to emerge, and some nations in the Caribbean such as Aruba and Antigua & Barbuda are already opening venues.
It is no surprise that Middle Eastern, oil-rich nations—especially Qatar and Saudi Arabia—have pushed to diversify their economies through sport. Indeed, the Qatari acquisition of the World Padel Tour (WPT)—now governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) under Premier Padel—represented a momentous phenomenon, additionally unveiling strategic decision-making and ironclad commitment to
institutionalizing the sport.
A country like Guyana—with its newfound hydrocarbon wealth—could be poised to venture along such endeavors with the mission of introducing its population to global sporting competition. From this,Guyana could take a leading role and set a precedent for how small nations can thrive in this unfolding racquet-oriented landscape.
Our mission as pádel entrepreneurs should be to foster the sport’s growth while building a truly global playing community. The contrasts and potential for scaling commercial ventures demand thoughtful analysis and spirited debate. The successes and challenges of pádel’s expansion can offer valuable insight into the evolving landscape of a Hispanicizing United States. Above all, it is no longer far-fetched to envision pádel becoming the next big thing across the Americas.
About the author:
Gerardo Penchyna Cárdenas is an emerging pádel entrepreneur from Mexico with a passion for racquet sports and Latin American politics. A graduate of Rice University and Georgetown University, he is currently pursuing a one-year master’s program in Pádel Club Managemente with the University of Murcia in Spain in partnership with PadelMBA.
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