Padel is not just another sport. It’s a mix of tennis and squash, which is increasingly appearing in calendars instead of regular meetings.
It appeared back in 1969 in Mexico, and became especially popular in Europe. Today, there are more than 30 million players in 90+ countries. Spain, Sweden, and Argentina are among the top countries. And in Ukraine, padel has long since grown out of “something new”: tournaments, new clubs, and a community on a roll every month. According to the latest estimates, there are about 50,000 players in the country. And yes, this is just the beginning.
Padel is especially easy to enter the digital environment. Flexible schedule, networking instead of small talk, and sports as an antidote to burnout. The affiliate community quickly made padel its own. And not only in Kyiv – they play in Lviv, Dubai, Tbilisi.
We have already shared the story of Katya Egoreichenko from HOMD Media – for her, padel has become a way to meet, reboot, and see real people without zoom and unnecessary formalities.
And this is just one of the stories. Because padel is not a trend, but a new form of life for those who are in the know.
Artem, Affiliate Manager, iGame Panda
I found out about padel at the first tournament among the affiliate community – it was actively advertised, so I went there as a spectator. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t do much physical activity, so I decided to get back into motion and set a goal to lose a few extra pounds. In this sense, the fall was the perfect incentive. I used to play tennis at the amateur level, which helped me adapt quickly. But even beginners get involved very quickly. So far, I’ve been communicating mostly with people I know, but the community is growing so dynamically that new acquaintances are a matter of time. If the dates coincide, I will definitely participate in tournaments. And, of course, no one has canceled the photo with the racket on Insta.” (Smiles)
Victoria, Team Lead of Affiliates, G.Partners
I was invited by a partner who co-organizes APC. It was then that padel started to be actively promoted in the industry, and I was interested to try it. I decided to combine business with pleasure and joined the club with my colleagues. Before that, table tennis was my maximum, so I went to the court as a beginner. But after the first lesson with a great coach, I was able to play for hours for my own pleasure. The hardest part is overcoming the fear of being embarrassed. But once you find an opponent of about your level, everything is fine.
In the club, I try to disconnect from work issues and communicate with people not as colleagues, but as like-minded people. Tournaments are really energizing: seeing how serious others are, you get excited. Now I’m already preparing for revenge. The greatest value of padel is the atmosphere: cool company, good coaches, no need to bother with booking – everything is already there.
Artem, CBDO, White Rhino
I saw the post on Instagram and got interested. I wanted to try something new and meet new people. I had played tennis only once before, so I came to the court from scratch. It was hard to get used to the racket and not to hit too hard so that the ball didn’t go out of bounds. But I quickly got involved. I’ve already made friends, even created working chats with several players.
Orgs are great. Each time a new format, interesting pairs, the game turns into a mini-event. Everything here is human: comfortable, atmospheric, without pathos.
Sasha Klim, CEO, Masons Traffic
I learned about padel from my friends. They told me that it is a new sport that is actively taking off in Dubai. I went to training, and the first lesson was a drag. The coach said it was one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Everything fell into place. Padel is much easier than tennis in terms of entry: a few training sessions and you’re already high. It’s also a great way to meet people and easily establish contacts. In tennis, it took me much longer to feel the game. Here, there is excitement from the first set. For me, padel has already become the number one sport.
I recommend taking a coach at least for the first 3-5 lessons. This will really help you understand the essence and get the most out of it. Because padel is really for everyone.
Did you know that…
The court area is smaller than a tennis court: 20×10 meters. This makes the game more dynamic and less tiring.
Padel is a doubles game. All official matches are played in a 2-on-2 format, which promotes teamwork.
A racket without strings, with holes. It is lighter than a tennis racket and comfortable to play.
Since 2023, padel has been officially represented at the European Games. There are chances that it will be included in the Olympic program.
100+ new courts open every month in Europe (International Padel Federation data).
A networking environment is being formed in the clubs, where acquaintances go far beyond sports.
Padel is more than just a game. It’s a mix of sport, networking, and fun that naturally fits into the rhythm of the digital party. It doesn’t impose a form – it creates a space where you can relax and work out at the same time. And if someone still believes that padel is “for the chosen ones”, the affiliate community has already proved that it is not.