Emergence and Growth of Padel Sports
The South African Padel Association (SAPA) is actively gearing up for a new era in the sport, with teams being formed, players being coached, and an outside coach being hired for a "coach the coaches programme". This push comes as the popularity of padel tennis continues to soar worldwide.
Originating in Spain in 1974, padel tennis has since become the country's second most popular sport, boasting a whopping 6 million players and 20,000 courts nationwide. The sport's rapid expansion has been fueled by a 35% increase in players and 40% more countries participating in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. This surge is evident in the nearly doubling of international tournaments, a clear sign of strong global growth.
Europe, particularly the UK, Germany, France, and emerging markets, has been a hub for this growth. The sport's accessibility and social nature have contributed to a 92% player return rate, increasing its popularity and retention globally.
In South Africa, while specific global or regional data sources from 2025 do not provide explicit numbers on the exact count of padel courts or players, the country is classified among those where padel is gaining traction, albeit at a smaller scale compared to Europe or markets like the UK and Spain. South Africa currently has a growing number of courts and players, but it remains an emerging market rather than a leading one.
As of 2023, there will be hundreds of padel tennis courts nationally in South Africa. Some of the locations offering these courts include Padel Lab Clubview in Centurion, Proactive Padel at Irene Country Club Centurion, Padel Clearwater Crossing in Roodepoort, Padel Lab in Ruimsig and Rivonia, Africa Padel in Sandton, Padel Plus in Benoni, Africa Padel in Green Point, The Padel Club at Lourensford Wine Estate, Africa Padel in Claremont, Africa Padel in Camps Bay, Padel Nation in Umhlanga, Eden Padel in Salt Rock, Africa Padel in Kloof, Africa Padel in Plettenberg Bay, a court in East London, Beacon Bay, Hillcrest Durban, Bloubergstrand, Paarden Eiland, Illovo, and Randburg also have padel courts.
The sport, which resembles a double tennis match, allows for playing the ball off the wall and encourages it. The racquets used are sturdy and stringless, and the balls are smaller with less bounce compared to tennis balls. The global app Playtomic, used by most padel companies as their booking system, including Africa Padel, facilitates court bookings, private matches, and searching for games to join.
Argentina leads the way with approximately 2 million padel tennis players, while Italy boasts around 5,000 courts. For those interested in betting on padel matches, popular betting sites include Supabets, 10bet, Hollywoodbets, and Betway.
Padel tennis can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and the sport continues to gain traction in South Africa. With more courts opening in Gqeberha, Knysna, and Balito, the future looks promising for padel tennis in the country. The global trend suggests that padel tennis is here to stay, and South Africa is poised to join the ranks of countries embracing this exciting sport.
Sports betting enthusiasts might find interest in betting on padel matches, as popular betting sites like Supabets, 10bet, Hollywoodbets, and Betway offer such options. For those more interested in participating, South Africa's growing number of padel tennis courts, such as Padel Lab Clubview, Proactive Padel, Padel Clearwater Crossing, and others, offer opportunities to play casino games like padel tennis, a sport that encourages playing the ball off the wall and is gaining traction in South Africa.
