Given that Novak Djokovic is about to play in his 37th Grand Slam final tomorrow, he obviously knows a thing or two about tennis. But how accurate is his recent assertion that padel and pickleball (at least in the U.S.) are a real threat the future of the sport around the world?
As you’ll hear in the video clip above, which was taken from a press conference after his recent third round victory at Wimbledon, Djokovic states:
“If we don’t do something about it, as I said, globally or collectively, they’re going to convert all the tennis clubs into padel and pickleball because it’s just more economical. You have one tennis court. You can build three padel courts on one tennis court. You do the simple math. It’s just much more financially viable for an owner of a club to have those courts.”
More Optimistic Takes
Of course, given Djokovic’s celebrity and the millions upon millions of people who now play padel around the world, his statement got a lot of attention and elicited a lot of different reactions.
On LinkedIn, former college tennis player turned padel club owner and consultant Patricio Misitrano of The Sports Haus in Norwalk, CT, said, “I believe that while in the short term tennis might lose some real estate due to conversion of tennis courts to padel, more players will be introduced to all racquet sports. There will be a massive cross over from one racquet sport to the next. I have seen it already between tennis, platform tennis, and pickleball.”
Meanwhile, on our own LinkedIn page, British-born Canadian squash pro Pete Goodings remarked, “Having now played padel five times in the past two months, I can honestly say I’m hooked! It’s such a very clever and subtle game of patience, skill, and teamwork allied to amazing awareness.
Pickleball cannot hold a candle to padel (in my humble opinion), however there’s still a place for pickleball among the older/less mobile generation. Padel is a fabulous addition to the racquet sports options and I for one will not be a flash in the pan with this sport – LOVE IT!!”
My Own Take
I grew up as a competitive junior tennis player in the heyday of Agassi, Courier, and Sampras.
Then I was lucky enough to experience the insane two-decade dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic — and got to see all three play live multiple times, even head-to-head once or twice.
I love tennis. I still watch it every chance I get (in fact, I’ve got Wimbledon on right now) and try to make it in person to at least one pro tournament every year (ironically, the US Open is the only Grand Slam I haven’t been to yet).
Yes, I’m sure some tennis clubs and country clubs with limited space will face some tough choices going forward. And yes, I’m sure the various tennis organizations around the world like the USTA and LTA will need to come up with strategies for how these sports can thrive alongside one another.
But personally, I take it as a great sign that every single tennis player I’ve introduced padel to is hooked almost instantly. (To my knowledge, none have gone on to quit or swear off tennis. But they sure do want to play more padel!)
Furthermore, nearly every single major padel club owner and operator I’ve interviewed for The Padel State was a very accomplished college (if not pro) tennis player including Ryan Redondo of Taktika Padel… Nalle Grinda of Padel X… Elliot Carnello of Ace Padel… Tim Bainton of Epic Padel… and Miguel Correa of Charlotte Padel Club, just to name a few…
Then there’s the former pro-tennis-playing brothers Sandy Farquharson and Tom Farquharson who launched The Padel School. And former collegiate tennis player turned U.S. padel pro Brittany Dubins.
For what it’s worth, nearly all of them have told me they still love the game of tennis.
And Also… Not Instead Of
So, I wasn’t surprised to talk to several club tennis pros at RacquetX back in March who told me they think, if anything, padel is an exciting complement to tennis. And they all have a blast playing it right alongside tennis, rather than instead of tennis.
As someone who loves both sports, I completely agree. And hope time will prove them right.
Pickleball, though? That might be another story for another day.
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