There are countries that play a sport, and countries that live it.  Spain  clearly belongs to the second category.  1974 the prince  Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg , while visiting his friend  Enrique Corcuera  au  Mexico He discovered this lively, fun, and accessible game. Charmed, he decided to import it to Spain. Upon his return, he had the first courts built in the area.  Marbella , directly inspired by the one in Acapulco.

This foundational act would transform a country… into  global padel empire .

 The clash of a match: Alfonso de Hohenlohe and padel 

The Marbella Club was then one of the most sought-after venues for the European elite. Very quickly, the  paddle  It finds ideal conditions for development. In these privileged circles, the discipline spreads at a remarkable speed, driven by its  accessibility  and its  playfulness .

The real turning point comes in the  1990s Padel is gradually moving out of this elitist sphere to reach a much wider audience.

"The key moment in the evolution of padel in Spain was the 1990s, when figures from the worlds of politics, business, and journalism began to play it, allowing it to become a fashionable sport."

In just a few decades, what was once merely a pastime of the  Andalusian jet set  it is establishing itself as a massive sport. Padel is then becoming the  second national sport .

 An extraordinary infrastructure 

Today, Spain is the  world reference  padel. The country now has between  4 to 6 million practitioners , which confirms its status as  second participation sport  behind football.

"Padel has established itself as the second most popular sport in Spain, with a constantly expanding player base."

On the infrastructure front, growth is just as spectacular. Spain now has approximately  17 lots , a figure that has been steadily increasing in recent years.

This density, unparalleled in the world, perfectly illustrates the the integration of padel into Spanish society It relies on a very dense network between  private clubs ,  public facilities  and structures dedicated to intensive practice.

A model that has allowed padel to become a lasting part of everyday life for Spaniards, far beyond a simple fad.

María José Gómez: “Spain has become the number 1 destination for discovering padel with family or business”

 Padel as a social link 

In Spain, padel goes far beyond the realm of sport. It's become part of everyday life, like a true  social activity .

Clubs are places to live, matches often extend into moments of sharing, and the practice is based on a format that naturally promotes interaction.

"This convivial aspect, a game for four people in an enclosed space, where you talk between each point, is deeply rooted in the Spanish culture of sharing and community life."

This model largely explains its explosion in popularity: padel is as much a sport as a  pretext to meet up .

 Spain, a modern factory of champions 

Spain is not only the country where padel is played the most: it has also become a  reference at the highest level .

Alejandro Galán and Juan Lebrón marked a generation by forming the  the most formidable Spanish pair in world padel Their domination, based on a  exceptional physical intensity  and total  total complementarity has redefined the standards of the professional circuit.

In their wake, the new generation is making a strong impact. Arturo Coello embodies this evolution. With a game based on the  power   explosiveness  and with an impressive aerial presence, he symbolizes a more modern padel.  aggressive faster, almost  overkill .

Spain continues to evolve the game, imposing its rules and having a lasting influence on trends in the international circuit.

Euro Padel Cup 2025: all the results, Spain doubles European champion

At the beginning of 2019, padel surpassed tennis in the number of registered players in Spain. A powerful symbol in a country marked by figures like Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

Spain hasn't just adopted padel. It has  re-invent ,  structure ,  democratized  and propelled onto the world stage.

While sport continues to conquer new territories, Madrid remains the undisputed capital of a  empire  which has not finished expanding.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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