The captivating story of padel Dubai – Padel Pro, sometimes known as “padel tennis,” unfolds as an amazing voyage that travels from the Mexican resort town of Acapulco to the teeming city of Dubai. Today’s global phenomenon, pedal, has a fascinating past characterized by seismic changes and exploding appeal.
Acapulco Marks the Beginning of Padel
In the late 1960s, the visionary Enrique Corcuera set out on a search in the Mexican seaside town of Acapulco, where our story begins. On his land, Enrique built a court with strong brick walls to realize his idea of an unmatched athletic event. Enrique named his invention “Paddle Corcuera,” taking cues from tennis and squash.
Initially, the padel court’s high walls were constructed to keep stray balls inside his property lines. The game’s pace was frequently hampered by stray balls, which led to interruptions and disruptions. But soon Enrique’s brilliant concept made it clear that the barriers could be cleverly incorporated into the gameplay itself. The court, which was cleverly created to fit four players and resemble a doubles tennis match, measured a modest 20×10 meters.
Spain-bound Padel’s Journey
His wealthy social circle was interested in Enrique’s passion for padel, so he kindly invited them to watch games at Paddle Corcuera. Alfonso De Hohenlohe from Spain was one of his illustrious guests. During his visit to Enrique’s courts in the 1970s, he developed a close bond with the game. When he got back to Spain, Alfonso taught his classmates how to play the game and made significant adjustments to increase the level of competition. Alfonso built two padel fields on his Spanish land quickly one after the other.
With the support of notables like Juan Carlos, the Spanish king, Manolo Santana, the Wimbledon winner, and former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the sport’s ascent in Spain received enormous impetus. In Spain right now, padel rivals tennis, with elite padel players claiming their dominance on the world stage.
Argentina Introduced by Padel
In 1969, Julio Menditengui, a close friend of Alfonso De Hohenlohe, helped set up Argentina’s encounter with padel. After playing on Alfonso’s courts, Julio became enthused about the sport. The first padel camps were established at Ocean Club Mar de le Plata and Club Tortugas by Julio, who was determined to spread the sport throughout Argentina. The sport ultimately made it to Marbella Hotel Club, although it remained predominantly an elite-only activity.
1982 was a turning point since it saw the official start of padel’s growth in Argentina and the birth of a cultural phenomenon. Padel’s rise to prominence was greatly aided by the San Juan Tennis Club in Buenos Aires, which at first had eight courts.
Padel’s Rapid Ascent in Dubai
Due to Sheikh Hamdan, the Crown Prince of Dubai, the sport of pédal was accepted in Dubai in 2013. This marked a new chapter in the adventure of pédal. Two padel courts were added to the NAS Sports Complex thanks to Sheikh Hamdan’s support. His enthusiastic participation and promotion of the sport through movies and pictures sparked a contagious excitement in the area.
When the UAE Sports Ministry gave Padel official acceptance in June 2019, Padel got official recognition. Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum was elected as the first president of the UAE Padel Association. Currently, Dubai is home to over 400 padel courts and a sizable community of around 6,000 players dispersed throughout a number of locations, including JLT, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Quoz, Kite Beach, and Ripe Market.
Influence of Padel Worldwide
Padel tennis has advanced in a remarkable way during the past 25 years. Over 18 million aficionados from all over the world participate as its attractiveness grows. Padel clubs now number more than 4,000 worldwide, and this number is continually rising as a result of the sport. Despite having strong origins in European countries like Sweden, Germany, and Finland, padel is poised to gain more popularity in the next few years because of the promise of more media attention from illustrious sports publications.
End Note
In conclusion, the history of padel presents itself as an engrossing narrative that cuts over national boundaries and cultural differences. Padel’s path, from its modest beginnings in Mexico to its robust presence in Dubai and beyond, perfectly captures the continuing allure of this thrilling and dynamic sport.
Visit Padelpro.ae in Dubai for all your padel necessities to play the game that has captivated players worldwide.
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