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player, Laviv coaches 6-8 hours a day and has added her own personal mission to the movement: opening doors for more women to discover the sport. Roup’s 16-year old son Itay has become part of the movement as well - a rising national talent already gaining recognition as one of the most promising young everywhere — from the urban courts of Tel Aviv to stunning Caesarea, the coast of Netanya, and all the way to Jerusalem and Rehovot. Whether it’s a group class, a private lesson, or a casual social match, there’s always a way in. No experience needed, no age limit - just a sport built for everyone. ˆ players in the country. Today, padel has spread Where to play: Tel Aviv: Country Dekel - Padel Time - Group classes, community events, pool + jacuzzi access; Kfar Maccabiah: Padel Israel - Instagrammable courts, country club setting; Tel Aviv University: Padel Israel - Where it all began; a 360° sports experience; Tero X Wilson, Hadar Yosef - Luxury Petach Tikva: Padelnet - Spain certified coaches, kids’ classes, tournaments Beit Berl: House Padel - Pink courts, celeb-spotting, high-end social vibe Caesarea: Padel Israel (Two Locations) - outdoor luxury courts, family-friendly Bnei Tsion: SmashPoint - Indoor Complex, Fully covered, temperature-controlled courts Netanya : Top padel - French speaking community, French speaking coaches, national championships courts, next to the Olympic Experience Sports Center

adar Yosef I Photo: Keren Brown Padel court in H

being Danny Roup, a beloved TV personality in Israel, who fell instantly in love with the game. He traveled the country, showing up at sports events, community gatherings, and city meet-ups, introducing padel to anyone willing to listen, even convincing mayors and city officials to pick up a racket and give the game a try. By 2023, Roup and his business partner Yonathan Tal opened Padelnet, in Petach Tikva, which quickly became one of the country’s most professional and respected clubs. Padelnet prides itself on working with instructors who are professionally certified in Spain, bringing world-class training standards to Israel. They host tournaments, develop rising talent, and train athletes that aim

to compete on the international stage. Roup and Tal recently opened an additional club in Nesher, a city about 6 km southeast of Haifa that has become a focal point for players from the Carmel, Krayot, and Haifa region, and all over the north of Israel. “I did everything I could to make sure this sport would truly take off”, says Roup. “I wanted it to become not just a trend, but a community based phenomenon. Just look at the world, 22,000 courts in Spain alone, and massive growth across Scandinavia, Italy, France and England, the momentum is unstoppable. Padel isn’t just a sport. It’s a lifestyle anyone can step into”. Today, Roup’s life partner Rotem Laviv is one of Israel’s top female padel players. A former basketball

Danny Roup: “I did everything I could to make sure this sport would truly take off. I wanted it to become not just a trend, but a community-based phenomenon”

28 ATMOSPHERE MARCH 2026