Padel Passion
Padel is a fast-growing sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, offering a dynamic gaming experience that is accessible to all. In this article, you will discover the history and the main rules that make this game so fun and exciting.
1. The History of Padel
Padel was born in the 1960s in Mexico, in 1969 to be precise. The inventor of the game was Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican entrepreneur. Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court in his house in Acapulco, but space was limited. So, he decided to create a smaller court surrounded by walls, also using elements of racquetball. He called this new variant of tennis ‘padel’.
Later, padel was brought to Spain by a friend of Corcuera's, Spanish Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, who helped introduce it to Europe. In the 1970s, the game spread rapidly, especially in Spain and Argentina, where it is very popular today.
Since then, padel has continued to grow and in recent decades has become one of the most popular sports in many countries, especially in Europe and Latin America. Due to its simplicity and accessibility, it is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
2. Padel in Italy
Padel arrived in Italy in the 1990s, but its initial spread was rather slow and limited to certain areas. The real padel boom in the country started in 2014, when the number of courts and players began to grow rapidly.
The Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) officially recognised padel in 2008, integrating it into its activities and promoting championships and tournaments at national level. Since then, interest in padel has grown at an exponential rate, and in recent years has experienced enormous growth among both amateurs and professionals.
Today, Italy is one of the European countries with the largest number of padel players, and the sport continues to gain popularity due to its accessibility and the social and dynamic nature of the game.
3. Padel's great champions
There are currently several top champions in the world of padel, both in the men's and women's circuits.
Men's champions:
Juan Lebrón (Spain): Known as ‘El Lobo’, Juan Lebrón was the first Spanish player to reach the top of the world ranking. He is one of the most dynamic and powerful players on the circuit.
Alejandro Galán (Spain): Lebrón's partner, Galán is another top Spanish talent. Together they form one of the most dominant pairs on the World Padel Tour (WPT), winning several major titles.
Paquito Navarro (Spain): Navarro is a charismatic player, loved by the public for his personality and aggressive playing style. He has won many tournaments over the years and has consistently been among the best in the world.
Arturo Coello (Spain): A young talent on the rise, Coello is already among the best in the world. With his great height and technical ability, he represents the future of padel.
Female champions:
Ariana Sánchez (Spain): One of the best players on the women's circuit, Ariana Sánchez is known for her tactical intelligence and defensive skills. She has won numerous tournaments together with her partner Paula Josemaría.
Paula Josemaría (Spain): Partner of Ariana Sánchez, Paula is another world padel star. Together they form an almost unbeatable pair, dominating the World Padel Tour.
Gemma Triay (Spain): Gemma Triay is one of the strongest and most complete players on the circuit. With a powerful and precise game, she has won many high-level competitions.
Alejandra Salazar (Spain): Alejandra Salazar is a padel veteran, recognised for her superlative technique and ability to manage the crucial moments of matches. She has been among the best in the world for many years and continues to dominate the circuit.
Notable pairs (2024):
Juan Lebrón and Alejandro Galán are among the most successful and followed pairs on the men's circuit.
Ariana Sánchez and Paula Josemaría are the couple to beat in the women's, having won many prestigious tournaments.
These players represent the elite of current padel and continue to write the history of this ever-growing sport.
4. Padel champions in Italy
Padel is growing strongly in Italy and there are several players who are emerging at national and international level.
Men's champions:
Riccardo Sinicropi: One of Italy's most successful players, Sinicropi comes from tennis and has made the transition to padel with great success. He has participated in several World Padel Tour (WPT) tournaments and is considered one of the best in Italy.
Simone Cremona: Cremona is one of the most experienced and talented players on the Italian scene. He has won numerous titles at national level and is a reference point for Italian padel. He is also often involved at international level.
Marcelo Capitani: Of Argentinian origin but naturalised Italian, Capitani is an experienced player. He has participated in several tournaments on the international circuit and is one of the main protagonists of Italian padel.
Daniele Cattaneo: Cattaneo is another of Italy's top players, with a career on the rise. He has participated in numerous WPT tournaments and is one of the stalwarts of the Italian national team.
Female champions:
Carolina Orsi: Carolina Orsi is one of Italy's best padel players. She has participated in numerous international tournaments and represented Italy in major competitions such as the World Padel Championships.
Giulia Sussarello: Sussarello is one of the strongest and most consistent players in Italian padel. She has won several national titles and participated in the World Padel Tour, also achieving excellent results at international level.
Chiara Pappacena: Chiara is another of the stars of Italian women's padel. Often paired with Giulia Sussarello, she has won numerous national titles and has also proven herself internationally.
Emily Stellato: Stellato is one of the most competitive Italian players and has participated in several editions of the World Padel Tour. She is one of the leading athletes in the women's padel movement in Italy.
5. The main rules of padel
Court and equipment:
The court is rectangular (10 m x 20 m), surrounded by glass walls and wire mesh, which are part of the game.
It is played with specific rackets, without strings, and balls similar to tennis balls but with slightly less pressure.
Modes of play:
It is almost always played in doubles (2 against 2), but there is also a single version (1 against 1).
Scoring is similar to tennis: points are counted as 15, 30, 40, game. To win a set you have to get to 6 games, with at least a 2-game lead. If you get to 6-6, a tie-break is played (whoever gets to 7 points with a 2-point lead wins).
Serving:
Serving is done from below, with the ball having to be hit below belt height.
The player must bounce the ball in his own court and hit it into the opposite diagonal of the opponent's court.
The ball must bounce once into the opponent's court before it can touch the walls.
Bounces and walls:
After the ball bounces into the opponent's court, it can hit the glass walls (not the wire mesh), and the ball remains in play. Players may also hit the ball directly against the walls of their side to send it over the net.
If the ball bounces twice into the opponent's court, the point is lost.
Valid and out-of-bounds shots:
The ball is in play as long as it bounces into the court or hits the walls after bouncing. If the ball hits the walls directly without bouncing into the court, it is considered ‘out’.
It is possible to hit the ball on the volley, except when receiving the serve.
General rules:
The point is won when the opponent fails to return the ball, hits it out of bounds, or sends it directly against the net or walls without bouncing.
You lose the point if the ball bounces twice in your court before being hit or if the ball is sent out of bounds without bouncing back in.
The game is dynamic, fast and very addictive, with a mix of strategy and reflexes.
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