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How a Backyard Experiment Became a Global Sport
Padel is now played by over 25 million people across more than 90 countries, but its story begins in a surprisingly humble place: a private backyard in Acapulco, Mexico. Understanding where padel came from helps explain why it plays the way it does, with walls, enclosed courts, and a uniquely social format that sets it apart from every other racket sport.
The Invention of Padel in 1969
In 1969, Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court at his vacation home in Acapulco. The problem was space. His property did not have enough room for a regulation tennis court, so he adapted. He built a smaller court and added walls around it so the ball would stay in play rather than flying into neighboring properties.
Corcuera called his creation "Padel" and wrote the first set of rules for the game. The court measured 20 meters by 10 meters, enclosed by concrete walls on the back and partial walls on the sides. Players used solid rackets without strings and a depressurized tennis ball. The game was played exclusively in doubles format, and the underhand serve kept rallies accessible for players of all skill levels.
What started as a practical solution to a space problem turned out to be something much more interesting: a sport that was easier to pick up than tennis, more social by design, and genuinely fun from the first point.
Padel Crosses the Atlantic to Spain
The sport might have stayed a Mexican curiosity if not for Alfonso de Hohenlohe, a Spanish prince and socialite who visited Corcuera in Acapulco during the early 1970s. Hohenlohe played padel at Corcuera's home, fell in love with the game, and brought it back to his resort in Marbella, Spain.
Hohenlohe built the first padel courts in Europe at the Marbella Club and introduced the sport to Spain's social elite. From there, the game spread quickly through private clubs and resorts along the Costa del Sol.
Spain's warm climate, strong tennis culture, and social sporting traditions made it the perfect environment for padel to thrive. By the 1980s, padel had moved beyond exclusive clubs and into public facilities across the country. The (Federación Española de Pádel) was founded in 1991, formalizing the sport's governance and competitive structure.