Credit: Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Vietnam.

Two racket sports, two global stories

For decades, tennis has been the dominant player in the racket sport space, with its Grand Slam traditions, legendary athletes, and millions of fans watching every season.

In recent years, though, padel has stepped onto the world stage. Once a little-known game confined to Spain and Argentina, it is now celebrated as the fastest-growing sport in the world.

The comparison of padel vs tennis is no longer niche; it is part of a wider conversation about how we play, connect, and stay active.

Global popularity of padel and tennis

Tennis’s global legacy

Tennis is a truly global game. More than 100 million people play worldwide (ITF Global Tennis Report 2023), and it is recognised in almost every country through the International Tennis Federation. The four Grand Slam tournaments – Wimbledon, Roland Garros, the US Open, and the Australian Open – are watched by hundreds of millions each year.

Tennis is deeply woven into sporting culture, from public park courts in London to vast stadiums in New York and Melbourne.

Padel’s meteoric growth

Padel may not yet match tennis in raw numbers, but its growth is extraordinary. The sport has now surpassed 30 million players globally, up from just 12 million in 2014 (FIP World Padel Report 2024). The number of padel clubs grew 26% in 2024 alone, with 3,282 new venues opening – an average of nine new clubs every day (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025). Court construction has been just as rapid, climbing beyond 50,000 worldwide, and forecasts predict more than 70,000 by 2026. Online interest reflects this rise too. Google searches for “padel” have increased by 18% per year since 2016 (Strategy & 2025).

Why do newcomers flock to padel?

One of padel’s great strengths is how easy it is to start playing. The smaller court, underarm serve, and use of walls keep rallies alive, even for complete beginners. Where tennis can take months to master a fluid rally, padel offers fun from the very first session.

• Rackets are lighter and easier to handle than tennis rackets.
• Games are played in doubles, which makes the sport naturally social.
• The average rally length is longer than in tennis, creating more satisfaction for newcomers.

Credit: @padelgrapher.

The result is remarkable retention. A study of new players in the US found that 92% of those who tried padel once returned for a second and third time (Padel Haus – Playtomic Global Report 2025).

Tradition vs. Community

Tennis’s prestige and tradition

Tennis has prestige built on heritage. From Wimbledon’s all-white dress code to iconic rivalries like Federer vs Nadal, it represents tradition, refinement, and global recognition. For many, tennis is a lifelong pursuit, passed down generations and rooted in ritual.

Padel’s social heartbeat

Padel, by contrast, has grown up in the age of community and connection. Originating in Mexico and flourishing in Spain, it is now part of daily life in cities from Milan to Stockholm. The sport thrives on its convivial atmosphere. Players often meet for post-match drinks, and many clubs host open matches where strangers can join, creating friendships on court. A 2024 survey found that the two main reasons people play padel are fitness and socialising (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2024).

The market impact of padel and tennis

Padel is not just growing in players, it is growing in value. The global industry was worth around €2 billion in 2023, and forecasts predict it will triple to €6 billion by 2026 (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2024). Racket sales alone exceeded 4.5 million units in 2023, with major brands such as Head, Wilson, and Babolat expanding their padel ranges.

Tennis remains larger overall, especially with its multi-billion-dollar media rights and sponsorships. But padel is quickly capturing investor interest, with celebrities from David Beckham to Zlatan Ibrahimović backing clubs and events.

Where padel and tennis are played worldwide

Tennis’s global reach

Tennis courts can be found almost everywhere. The United States has more than 20 million recreational players, and Asia accounts for over a third of the world’s tennis community. Europe, South America, and Australia all host major professional tournaments, making tennis a staple across continents.

Padel’s hotspots

Padel is strongest in Europe and Latin America. Spain leads with more than 16,000 courts and around 5 million players. Italy has surpassed 8,000 courts. France’s community has grown from 80,000 players in 2018 to more than 400,000 today. In the UK, participation has exploded from 6,000 players in 2020 to 90,000 by 2023, with projections of 600,000 by 2026 (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025).

Beyond Europe, Argentina and Mexico remain powerhouses, while the Middle East and Asia are beginning to embrace padel. Indonesia, India, and Saudi Arabia are now among the fastest-growing markets (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025).

How squash and pickleball compare

Squash once occupied the space of a fast, indoor racket sport. It still has around 20 million players worldwide, but participation has plateaued in many regions. Padel is often seen as a more accessible alternative, less physically intense but equally thrilling.

Pickleball, meanwhile, has become a sensation in the United States. More than 13 million Americans now play, and many padel clubs in North America also run pickleball courts. Around 30% of US padel clubs offer both sports (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025). Players often sample both, but conversion trends show that once people try padel, they rarely return exclusively to tennis or pickleball.

Barriers and Opportunities

Padel’s biggest challenge is infrastructure. Courts are costly to build, requiring glass walls, turf, and lighting. Bureaucracy can slow expansion, too, as seen in Germany, where permits take time. Tennis, by contrast, benefits from a century of public courts and established clubs.

Yet the opportunities for padel are immense. Digital booking apps like Playtomic make court access simple, professional tours are expanding, and the International Padel Federation is pushing for Olympic inclusion by 2032. As the sport professionalises, it is well placed to complement, rather than compete with, tennis.

Expert Voices

Industry leaders regularly highlight padel’s staying power. Pablo Carro, co-founder of Playtomic, recently wrote that “excellence is not optional” and that the sport’s future depends on building sustainable, digitally native experiences (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025).

In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association has embraced padel as part of its strategy to modernise clubs, aiming for hundreds of thousands of new players in the coming years. And in the US, Santiago Gomez of Padel Haus has spoken about the sport’s 92% retention rate and the “one-way conversion” from pickleball to padel (Playtomic & Strategy & Global Padel Report 2025).

Padel vs tennis is a growing interest, not a rivalry

Padel vs tennis is not a battle. It is a story of tradition meeting innovation. Tennis remains the giant, steeped in history and recognised worldwide. Padel is the rising star, bringing social energy, rapid growth, and a new kind of community to racket sports.

Curious to try padel or level up your game? Visit Global Padel Hub to find a padel club near you, discover coaches, and plan padel travel in one place. Start your search today and join the movement shaping the next chapter of global sport.