Padel is rapidly growing in popularity around the globe — now the third most-searched racket sport after tennis and badminton — surpassing ping pong and narrowing the gap with tennis. But can it truly compete? Let’s look at the evidence.
Global Popularity Trends
- Search interest for “padel” nearly doubled since 2020, outpacing ping pong and approaching badminton.
- Currently, “padel” accounts for approximately 14 searches for every 100 tennis searches, a big jump from 7 per 100 in previous years.
How Padel Differs from Tennis
- Play style & strategy: Padel emphasizes teamwork, smarter ball placement, and use of walls; tennis often relies more on individual power and surface type.
- Accessibility: Smaller courts, slower speed, and simpler learning curve make padel more beginner-friendly and social.
Complement, Not Replace
As an expert study notes, tennis and padel serve different athletic profiles. Tennis demands more movement, sprints, and stamina, while padel offers longer rallies and more consistent play.
Most tennis players don’t switch; they play padel alongside tennis — it’s complementary, not adversarial.
The Future Outlook for Padel
With sustained online interest and growth in clubs worldwide (25 million players, growing), padel could soon rival tennis in participation — especially in social and urban settings. So the question is: Can padel compete with tennis?
Related Reads on Padel.com.gr
- Techniques in Padel – A guides to key padel techniques
- South African Invitational Padel Tournament – Highlighting the rise of padel globally
