Padel Up: The Rise of Padel

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores one of the most compelling questions in sport right now: where does padel go next? From its origins in 1969 Mexico to a global phenomenon boasting an estimated 25 million players worldwide, padel has undergone one of the most remarkable growth trajectories in modern sporting history. Jack breaks down the key drivers behind p...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer takes a deep dive into the booming padel economy — exploring how a sport that began in Mexico in the late 1960s has evolved into a multi-billion dollar global industry. From the investment behind padel club construction and the profitability of court hire models, to the explosive growth of padel equipment brands and the rise of profe...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the rapidly expanding global footprint of padel tennis, with a deep dive into its emergence across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. From the gleaming courts of Dubai to the urban clubs of Tokyo, Seoul, and Lagos, padel is crossing cultural and geographic boundaries at a remarkable pace. Jack examines how the United Arab Em...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores one of the most important and hotly debated topics in professional padel today: the governance battle between Premier Padel, the World Padel Tour, and the International Padel Federation. From the rapid global growth of padel to the high-stakes commercial conflicts that erupted as serious investment entered the sport, Jack br...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the explosive growth of investment in padel, examining why billionaires, private equity firms, and global sports organisations are betting big on the world's fastest growing sport. From Qatar Sports Investments backing Premier Padel to former tennis world number one Andy Murray investing in padel businesses in the UK, the ep...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the remarkable story of how padel became one of Europe's fastest-growing sports. From its origins in Acapulco, Mexico in the late 1960s to its adoption in Spain and subsequent explosion across northern Europe, this episode traces the cultural and commercial forces that turned a backyard invention into a continental phenomeno...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer takes a deep dive into the legends who defined padel and transformed it from a regional pastime into a global sporting phenomenon. Discover the stories behind the kings and queens of the padel court, from the extraordinary dominance of Fernando Belasteguín and his record-breaking reign at world number one, to the tactical brilliance...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the history and legacy of the World Padel Tour — the professional circuit that transformed padel from a regional passion into a globally recognised competitive sport. From its founding in 2012 to its eventual transition into the Premier Padel era, this episode traces the key milestones that shaped professional padel as we kn...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer takes a deep dive into one of the most distinctive features of the sport: the glass court walls. From the origins of padel in 1969 Mexico to the engineering precision behind modern tempered glass panels, this episode explores the science, history, and unique sensory experience that makes the padel court unlike anything else in racket...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the explosive growth of padel across Latin America, tracing the sport from its origins in Mexico in 1969 to the padel powerhouses of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and beyond. Discover how Enrique Corcuera's inventive court in Acapulco sparked a global phenomenon, and why Argentina remains the world's most passionate padel nation...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores one of the most compelling stories in modern sports history — how Spain transformed from an early adopter of padel into the undisputed global capital of the game. From its aristocratic beginnings at the Marbella Club in the early 1970s to the bustling municipal courts of Madrid and Barcelona, Spain's padel journey is a maste...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the remarkable origin story of padel, tracing it back to its inventor, Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera. In 1969, Corcuera built a modified court on his property in Acapulco, Mexico, after discovering he lacked the space for a full-sized tennis court. Using solid paddles, enclosed walls, and adapted rules, he inadvertent...

In this episode of Padel Up: The Rise of Padel, host Jack Mercer explores the fascinating origin story of padel, tracing the sport back to its birthplace in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969. Discover how Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera invented padel almost by accident when limited space on his property led him to build a smaller, enclosed court that would change the world of racket sports forever....