Padel has gained immense popularity and captured the attention of sports lovers across the world. Javier Sansierra, an international tennis consultant from Madrid, Spain, who has officiated matches featuring iconic players like John McEnroe, spoke to Sports Now and shared his valuable insights into this growing trend.
According to Sansierra, the surge in padel's popularity is due to its faster pace and accessible learning compared to traditional tennis. The Spaniard explained that tennis, which holds a global appeal, is viewed as lengthy and tedious by a lot of people, especially the younger generation. For them padel, offers a quicker and more enjoyable experience.
"Well, you know I've been in tennis for 50 years. I was a kid 12 years old when I started playing tennis, and I saw all the evolution of tennis, and suddenly 20 years ago we had this paddle and then pickleball now," said Sansierra.
When asked what attracts people to the sport, he replied, "Why? Well, I think that tennis and the process of learning it is very slow, very very slow. It is a very long process. For kids, it's kind of boring; for women, it's also kind of dull, and for young guys, it's kind of tedious. Nowadays, you prefer to have everything fast, and with pickleball, it's much faster, and the paddle is also faster. To me, that's the key."
Padel is a sport that combines aspects of tennis and squash and is played on a smaller, enclosed court with glass walls. It is typically played in doubles, thereby enhancing its social aspect. The game’s fast pace and frequent rallies make it exhilarating for players and spectators alike.
Padel’s surge in popularity reflects a slow but steady shift in sports, prioritising inclusivity, speed, and enjoyment. As Javier Sansierra puts it, the world has changed, and sports like padel and pickleball are perfect for this era. They’re fast, fun, and bring people together.