A relatively new sport that is a cross between tennis and squash is taking the Harrogate district by storm.
Padel is played between four players on reduced sized tennis courts. Competitors use paddle racquets and can bounce the ball off walls.
Nicky Horn, a Harrogate coach who has played the sport for 10 years, said she has seen a remarkable amount of interest in the sport in recent months.
She pointed to courts being built at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate, which is expected to see six new dedicated courts, and planned new courts at Ripon Tennis Club as an example of its booming demand.
Since the first covid lockdown, Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre has also seen high demand for its padel courts on Hookstone Wood Road.
A game of padel tennis in Harrogate.
Nicky said she expects to see padel’s popularity increase further over the next five years now that the Lawn Tennis Association oversees the sport.
She said:
“It’s really taking off.
“It’s a reasonably accessible sport because the players can hit the ball easier.”
‘Largest female padel tennis match’
Nicky played padel in Spain before returning to Harrogate to take up two teams. She currently coaches Harrogate and Rawdon on a Monday and Saturday.
Read more:
- Boom in padel tennis brings new centre to Harrogate
- Ripon Tennis Centre seeks local support to build padel courts
Last weekend, the two teams got together to play a game which Nicky believes was the largest female padel match in the UK.
Despite the cold conditions, 32 players, who ranged from eight-years-old to 80, turned up to take part as Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.
Nicky said:
“Everyone had lots of fun.
“Some of our players were squash players and some were tennis players, but everybody loved it.”
6,000 players in the UK
The local boom has been reflected across the country.
With more than 6.000 padel players in the UK, according to the LTA, the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Ballon D’or winning footballer, Lionel Messi, are also reported to be players of the sport.
Here are 10 facts you might not know about padel, from the LTA:
- There are more than 6,000 padel players in the UK
- Padel was invented in Mexico in the 1960s
- It is played in doubles
- Padel rules are similar to tennis – but you serve underarm
- It’s the second-most-popular sport in Spain
- Jamie Murray has played in a professional padel tournament
- Padel balls are smaller than tennis balls
- Lionel Messi has a padel court in his garden
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp discuss ideas with his coaches while playing padel
- It may not be an Olympic sport yet but campaigns are underway to make it one
Ripon Tennis Centre has asked locals in the Harrogate district to help fund two padel tennis courts.
The sport is growing in popularity and the crowdfunding project hopes to raise £30,000.
Sport England is making a donation of £10,000 and the Lawn Tennis Association will also be contributing with a loan.
The LTA has recognised padel tennis as an official sport.
Diane Hutchinson, centre manager, said:
“Padel is a great sport, we would love for it to accompany tennis at our centre”
“£30,000 is a lot to raise, we welcome any support whether it be big or small”
“The club welcomes people from all walks of life”
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Padel is a cross between squash and tennis. A padel court is one third the size of a normal tennis court and has glass around the court for the balls to bounce off.
Padel tennis racquets
The crowdfunding campaign has already received some attention, with Rudding Park donating a one night stay and spa day, as well as a golf day, to be sold by Ripon Tennis Centre to help raise money.
Ripon Tennis Centre said it has started to see a rise in new memberships post the pandemic and hopes even more will join after Emma Raducanu’s historic US Grand Slam win.
Boom in padel tennis brings new centre to HarrogateA new padel tennis centre could arrive at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park as popularity for the sport grows.
With more than 6.000 padel players in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country.
Plans have been submitted for a new six-court padel centre in one of Hornbeam’s new developments.
If planning is approved a new “boutique” gym will also open on the ground floor of the Matrix building with the padel courts on the first floor.
The building is currently empty but if planning is approved it could see the site transformed.
The court would be housed in the Unit 1M Matrix building if plans are approved.
Here are ten facts you might not know about padel tennis, from the LTA:
- Lionel Messi has a padel court in his garden
- Padel was invented in Mexico in the 1960s
- It is played in doubles
- Padel rules are similar to tennis – but you serve underarm
- It’s the second-most-popular sport in Spain
- Jamie Murray has played in a professional padel tournament
- Padel balls are smaller than tennis balls
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp plays the game to discuss ideas with his coaches
- There are more than 6,000 padel players in the UK
- It may not be an Olympic sport yet but campaigns are underway to make it one
Read more:
Planning documents have described the ground floor gym as “boutique with premium facilities”.
The centre will be opened by Coach Gyms Limited and Surge Padel Limited if planning is given the go ahead.