TAKING STOCK

As padel continues its rapid rise across Great Britain, LTA, the sport’s national governing body, provides an end-of-year update on the latest developments

Court figure update

In July, the LTA marked a significant milestone in the development of padel across Great Britain, announcing that more than 1,000 courts are now available across 325 venues nationwide. Since taking over the governance of the sport in 2019, when just 68 courts existed, padel has experienced rapid growth and is now recognised as one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports. Annual growth has been consistent, with the national total increasing to 87 courts in 2020, 150 in 2021, 220 in 2022, 350 in 2023 and 763 by the close of 2024.

This upward trajectory reflects both rising demand and strong strategic focus from operators and investors. To support the sport’s infrastructure, the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have allocated more than £6 million to padel development to date, including £4.5 million for the creation of 80 courts at 42 venues. Facilities span a wide operating mix, with a clear commitment to improving access for new and diverse audiences, particularly through public-sector projects in underserved communities. Alongside the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the LTA is progressing plans for 40 covered, community-focused tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs to enable year-round play on publicly owned sites. More than 75% of existing padel venues are already delivering community outreach, strengthening local engagement and participation.

LTA Padel National Championships

Recently, the LTA announced the inaugural LTA Padel National Championships, a landmark event marking a significant milestone in the growth of padel as a major sport in Great Britain. The tournament will be held at Rocket Padel in Bristol from 4-7 December 2025, showcasing top British junior, open, and senior padel players to compete for the title of national champions.

View from the top: Tom Murray, LTA’s Head of Padel

“This year has been truly monumental for padel in Britain. The LTA has adopted a more agile approach, accelerating progress and helping to establish the foundations for long-term success. “We’ve focused on building the infrastructure to support player growth, workforce, and a clear pathway for junior and performance players. We’ve also focused on bridging the gap with the private sector, to ensure the sport grows in harmony across all areas. How we continue to shape the pathway for the next generation will define the sport’s future — and I’m confident that padel in Britain now has a bright and exciting journey ahead.”

Performance

Great Britain’s performance players have enjoyed a period of significant progress in recent months, with teams at junior, open and senior levels showcasing promising development on the global stage. In September, the GB Junior Padel Team travelled to Costa Daurada, Spain, to compete in the FIP Junior World Cup. While both the boys’ and girls’ squads narrowly missed out on qualification for the main draw, the event delivered what the LTA’s National Performance Most recently, Great Britain took a further step forward at the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8 in La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished third in their respective groups, each closing out the event with a confidence-boosting final victory. The women’s squad made history with Great Britain’s first-ever win at a Final 8 competition, overcoming Germany 2–1, while the men defeated Sweden 2–1.

Also of note, in September, GB number two, Catherine Rose became the second British padel player ever to break into the top 100 of the FIP world rankings, joining Aimee Gibson.

Padel Advisory Group

In October, ahead of the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8, the LTA hosted the inaugural Padel Advisory Group (PAG). Established earlier this year, the PAG is designed as a collaborative forum, enabling open dialogue and informed decision-making as the sport scales nationwide.

The group will act as a strategic sounding board, shaping priorities across participation, competition, performance pathways, and workforce expansion. To support this mission, the LTA has appointed six prominent figures from across the British padel ecosystem. Their collective expertise will help steer the next phase of the sport’s development, ensuring padel’s rapid growth remains inclusive, commercially sustainable, and firmly rooted in the needs of the community it serves. Meeting several times a year, the group will help ensure Britain lays the foundations for a scalable, commercially sustainable future for padel.

The six members selected to be on the LTA Padel Advisory Group are:

Abigail Tordoff

With experience at Octagon and Give It Your Max, Abi combines her charity work introducing young people to sports with her background as a performance padel player, offering insight into player engagement, event management, and community outreach.

Angela Crossley

LTA Lead Tutor and Assessor, Angela brings hands-on expertise in coaching education, venue operations, and grassroots programme development.

Carl Heimdal

Co-founder of Rocket Padel, Carl drives UK facility expansion and navigates planning and business rate challenges, providing expertise on infrastructure and sustainable growth.

Enrique Buenaventura

Co-founder of Formula E and creator of the Hexagon Cup, Enrique brings global event experience and strategic insight into promotion and commercialisation of padel.

Pep Stoner

A key figure in domestic padel, Pep focuses on growing women’s participation through tailored competitions, with expertise in inclusivity, community building, and event logistics.

Sandy Farquharson

Founder of The Padel School and LTA National Performance Coach, Sandy blends elite coaching experience with global outreach and commentary, offering deep insight into player development and performance pathways.