The main differences are that the court has walls and the balls can be played off them in a similar way as in the game of squash and that solid, stringless bats are used.

[5] The Padel World Championship is held every second year since 1992, with Argentina (every time), Spain or Brazil reaching the final in every competition.

The sport is thought to have been invented in Acapulco,[6] Mexico, by Enrique Corcuera in 1969,[7] after he modified his squash court to incorporate elements of platform tennis.

[citation needed] Padel remained a niche sport for decades but its popularity soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as it could be played outdoors and didn't involve physical contact.

Emerging from a blend of traditional tennis and squash, Padel offers a more relaxed and social environment compared to other racket sports.

Unlike the formality often associated with tennis, Padel is characterised by its laid-back atmosphere, where players frequently enjoy casual wear and the presence of music on the courts.

The fast-paced nature of Padel, combined with its shorter court dimensions and the use of walls, fosters exciting and engaging gameplay, characterised by lengthy rallies and spirited crowd participation.

The sport's allure lies not only in its accessibility but also in its ability to provide a fun and lively experience for players and spectators alike.

In 2013 the World Padel Tour (WPT) was founded by Spanish brewery Estrella Damm with the approval of the AJPP, whereas the PPT was shut down.

[19][20] The WPT was based in Spain but also included tournaments in other European countries as well as Argentina, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

Sweden is the country with the second highest number of searches for the term "padel" in Google after Spain, according to the report presented by Playtomic and Monitor Deloitte.

And while countries such as Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway mainly opt for building indoor padel clubs because of their climatic conditions, Belgium, Italy, France and Germany prefer outdoor courts.

[10][22] In October 2023, the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) invested in Hexagon Cup, a Madrid-based padel competition involve six franchise teams owned by celebrities.

The American Padel Association was formed in 1995 and built its first courts at a private club in Houston, Texas, for exhibition games.

[30] As of late-2023 there were just seven registered padel clubs in Australia, with two in Sydney, two in Melbourne, one in Perth, one on the Gold Coast, and one in the regional town of Albury, with a combined total of 25 courts.