editor’s commentThe futurelooks brightThe future looks padel2022 was a year of firsts forpadel in the UKWe’ve broken through the 200 courtbarrier by some margin (we think it’sheading towards 230+), hosted a FIPEuropean Qualifier for the World PadelChampionships (at the awesome11-court We Are Padel in Derby), GB No 1Tia Norton scored her first internationaltitle on home soil (the ground-breakingLondon FIP Rise at the National TennisCentre), had men’s and women’steams competing successfully in theSeniors World Championships inLas Vegas and the GB men qualifiedfor the World Championships in Dubai(GB had participated previously buthadn’t needed to qualify - only 16teams make the championshipsand 18 entered from Europe alone,excluding those that had pre-qualified,to give an idea of how much the sportis growing worldwide).At home, padel moved into newcounties, cities and towns, withCornwall, Lancashire, GreaterManchester, Ipswich, Derby, Harrogateand Bristol amongst the roll-call ofplaces benefitting from courts. AndWales doubled its court provisionwith the opening of the Welsh PadelCentre adding to those already atWindsor Penarth.The first courts were opened on auniversity campus ((Plymouth Marjon)and the first university padel club wasborn (Leeds University). BabingtonHouse, Somerset, and Gleneagles,Scotland, hosted the first hotel pop-upcourts for a summer of smashes andthe Swedish Femme Open arrived onBritish shores, attracting huge supportfrom women players.Super centresEmma KimberEditorIt was also the year we saw the first‘super centres’ open, first of SurgeHarrogate (six courts) and then WeAre Padel, Derby (11 courts). Theyhave proved an important catalystfor encouraging growth of the sport,broadening its player base and, inthe case of Derby, facilitating thehosting of international competition.Up and down the country padelcommunities are flourishing. Thenumber of players competing hasgrown (for the first time the iPadelnational leagues have surpassed300 participants) and there’s aburgeoning array of competitionsopen to all levels of participants,from LTA tournaments to grassrootsclub events and leagues.Juniors & WestfieldsPlaytomic launched its JuniorAcademy to identify potential starsof the future, corporate padel eventsare becoming increasingly popularand more new businesses arespringing up to support the growthof the game.Westfields London. A pop-upcourt in the centre of a Londonshopping centre. Some 250,000potential eyes on the game anda slew of celebrities taking to thecourt, including Andy Murray.Take that Tiffany!2023 is gearing up to be equallyexciting, with rumours swirling ofnew multi-court centres in andaround London (our rumour countThe Bandeja teamEditorEmma KimberConsultantCatherine LarradDesignerEmma DevineCover ImageRichard Brooks helping teamGB qualify for the World PadelChampionshipscurrently sits at around 70+ courtsopening around the UK in the firsthalf of 2023), the emergence ofBristol as the UK’s second padel hubafter London, an exciting projectfurther north which we feel could setthe bar for integrating padel andtennis, and what has to be growingpressure on Wimbledon to bring ourbeautiful game into its fold with ashowcase court during The Fortnight.The Australian Open did it last yearand the AO 2023 has just hosted theinaugural Australian Padel Open.Padel appeared at the French Opentoo and new courts are popping uparound SW19. They’re (obviously)nothing like Weeping Angels but let’shope Wimbledon bosses don’t blinkand miss the opportunity.EmmaEmma KimberEditoremma@thebandeja.com4 thebandeja.com
editor’s commentCourt Build• Planning• Working Drawings• Groundworks• Padel Courts• Canopies• ConstructionPost-Build• Court Booking System• Maintenance• Coaching• Consultancy• Much moreExclusive UKDistributorEnquire now for same day quotesales@hexapadel.co.uk01342 894 508Padel Magazine - DECEMBER 2022www.hexapadel.co.uk5