EL AL | Atmosphere

Magazine I Sport

Padel is tennis’ newer, more easygoing little brother – played on a smaller court and in doubles, it’s a blend of tennis and squash that’s easier to learn. Social by design, addictive by nature, and the perfect networking gateway - it seems tailor-made for the start-up nation / By Keren Brown In the name of padel: the racket sport that’s redefining the way Israelis connect

Padel has quietly woven itself into Israeli life, becoming the country’s new way of forming friendships and connecting, becoming an unexpected sanctuary in a culture defined by 12-hour workdays. With more than 140 courts across the country, and new ones opening every month, padel is growing at a remarkable pace. But part of its magic lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Anyone can step onto a court, pick up a racket, and start playing within minutes. You can play it casually with friends, even late into the night, or pursue it all the way to the professional circuit, where the sport is rapidly gaining momentum and edging closer to a future place in the Olympic Games. Born in Mexico, adapted in Israel The story of padel starts in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969, when businessman Enrique Corcuera realized he didn’t have the space for a full tennis court. So instead, he built a smaller, enclosed court within the glass walls of his home, net and all. Those glass walls became part of the game itself, letting players use them the way squash players do,

tach Tikva I Photo: Danny Roup Padel court in Pe

Anyone can step onto a court, pick up a racket, and start playing within minutes

adding a whole new style of play. A few years later, his friend from Spain, Alfonso de Hohenlohe Langenburg, tried the game, became instantly obsessed, and decided to bring it back home to Spain with him. He built the first European padel courts at the Marbella Club, an exclusive resort that attracted celebrities and the international jet set, turning the

sport into a social phenomenon. Padel’s modern rise in Israel began in 2020, when two passionate entrepreneurs built two courts at Tel Aviv University, quietly planting the seeds of what would become a national movement. But the real momentum came when local enthusiasts banded together to push the sport forward, with one of the game’s biggest fans

26 ATMOSPHERE MARCH 2026