The history of padelbegins in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico, with the improvised solution of a businessman who couldn't fit a tennis court in his garden. Over the more than fifty years since, this sport, now played by millions around the world, has grown through Spain and Argentina into a global movement, and in recent years into a fast-growing community in Turkey and Ankara.
In this post we tell the story of padel's journey from its birth to today, how it took shape in different countries and how it reached Beytepe’.
1969: a garden and an invention in Acapulco
The story of padel begins when the Mexican businessman Enrique Corcueraran out of land while trying to build a tennis court at his home in Acapulco. Corcuera designed a small court to fit the available space and enclosed it with walls and wire mesh so the ball wouldn't go out. This practical solution formed the basis of the glass-and-fence court structure of padel as we know it today.
The court being small and the ball being allowed to bounce off the walls made the game different from tennis and more accessible. Corcuera’s friends quickly embraced this new game, and the sport soon began to spread beyond Mexico.
The leap to Spain: the Marbella connection
One of the most critical turning points in padel's global spread was the Spanish prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe trying the game in Acapulco and bringing it to the Marbella Club in Marbella. Quickly gaining popularity in Spain in the 1970s, padel laid the groundwork for amateur and professional structures to be set up, especially in Andalusia.
Today Spain is the country with the most padel courts and players in the world. This growth also brought the institutionalisation of the sport; national federations and professional tours developed with Spain at their centre.
Argentina: where competitive padel was born
Padel reached Argentina shortly after Mexico and took on a different identity there. In Argentina padel turned from a street sport into a professional discipline; combined with the country's strong tennis culture, it produced technically advanced players. Today a significant share of the top players in the world rankings are of Argentine origin.
Spain's institutional growth and Argentina's technical depth gave padel two separate but complementary identities, as both a fun and a competitive sport.
International structure: the FIP and professional tours
Padel's global unification of rules became possible with the founding of the International Padel Federation (FIP). The FIP sets all official rules, from court dimensions to the scoring system, and coordinates federations around the world. In recent years, professional tours such as Premier Padel have brought the sport to wide audiences on television and digital platforms.
Thanks to this institutional structure, padel has gone from an amateur garden game to a global sport with millions of players and a candidate for Olympic status.
How did padel come to Turkey?
In Turkey, padel began to be known over the last decade through private clubs opening in the big cities. The sport, which first grew centred on Istanbul, spread over time to cities such as Ankara, İzmir and Antalya. Tournaments organised by the Turkish Padel Federation and growing media interest increased the sport's growth rate further.
The O’Padel club at Istanbul Sarıyer Skyland, as one of the pioneering examples of this growth, turned padel into a lifestyle sport in Istanbul within the framework of our umbrella brand O’Wellness.
2026: Padel in Ankara
Although Ankara joined the padel map in Turkey relatively recently, its growth rate is quite striking. With universities such as Hacettepe, Bilkent and METU (ODTÜ), Beytepe and its surroundings offer an ideal ground for padel with their young and dynamic population. O’Padel Beytepe was founded to bring the experience of our sister club in Istanbul to Ankara, with the aim of being one of the city's first addresses with indoor, climate-controlled padel courts .
Ankara's high altitude and dry climate make outdoor sports difficult on cold winter days; this explains why indoor courts are so valuable in the city. On our courts in Beytepe’ we offer the chance to play year-round, regardless of weather conditions.
Padel today: both social and competitive
The most important feature padel has kept throughout its history is that it remains accessible to both beginners and professionals. Today in Beytepe’, a beginner joining lessons and an experienced player taking part in the monthly Americano tournaments can be in the same facility, as part of the same culture.
Understanding this historical continuity also helps you play the game more knowingly. For example, today's scoring system is inherited directly from tennis; and the court dimensions are an evolved form of Corcuera’s original garden court.
Important milestones in padel history
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Enrique Corcuera builds the first padel court in Acapulco |
| 1970s | The sport spreads to Spain (Marbella) and Argentina |
| 1990s | The International Padel Federation (FIP) is founded |
| 2020s | The rise of professional tours such as Premier Padel |
| 2020s | Padel in Turkey spreads from the big cities to Ankara |
Being part of padel history in Beytepe
The origin of padel's name and its early development
Although the origin of the name “padel” is not entirely clear, it is associated with the name given to Corcuera's court in the sport's first years in Mexico. In the early years the game was played among neighbours and friends with improvised rules and no official rulebook. As similar court structures appeared in different countries over time, it became clear the sport needed a standard set of rules.
In this early period padel was seen as a small amusement in the gardens of tennis clubs or in private villas; it was far from its professional structure today.
The 1980s and 1990s: the institutionalisation era
With padel's rise in popularity in Spain, the first official clubs and tournaments began to appear in the 1980s. The International Padel Federation (FIP), founded in the 1990s, standardised all rules from court dimensions to the scoring system, ensuring the sport was played consistently around the world. This period marked the beginning of padel moving beyond being a “garden game” to become an official sport.
After the 2000s: global spread
From the 2000s onwards, padel spread rapidly beyond Spain and Argentina to European countries such as Italy, France and Portugal. With the rise of social media, professional matches reaching wide audiences increased the sport's visibility. The founding of tours such as Premier Padel also significantly raised the earnings and recognition of top players.
Growth dynamics in Turkey
The growth of padel in Turkey ran in parallel with lifestyle changes in the big cities. When the rise of fitness and wellness culture combined with a search for a socially and technically satisfying sport, padel quickly became popular. The success of the first clubs in Istanbul became a model for investors in other cities too.
In Ankara this growth is fed especially by the young and dynamic population around the universities. The interest of Hacettepe, Bilkent and METU (ODTÜ) students and academic staff played an important role in the development of our facility in Beytepe’. Events such as the inter-university cup strengthen this regional bond further.
The future of padel: the Olympic goal and technology
In recent years padel has been making progress in the candidacy process for Olympic status; this is seen as a development that will further raise the sport's international recognition. Technological advances such as video analysis, smart rackets and data-driven training methods are also speeding up the development of both professional and amateur players. The video analysis option we offer in our lessons in Beytepe’ is a local reflection of this global trend.
The role of women and young people in padel history
In padel's spread, the participation of women and young people played an important role in the sport being seen as a social activity. The spread of family tournaments in Spain and Argentina made padel a sport across generations. A similar trend is seen in Turkey today; members of different age groups in a family can play at the same club, sometimes even on the same court.
Ankara's place on the padel map
Although Ankara is a younger city than Istanbul in padel infrastructure, its university density and growing wellness culture create a fast catalyst effect. Beytepe, as one of Çankaya's developing districts, offers a central location for both established families and the university community. This geographic advantage contributes directly to the club's growth on Ankara's padel map.
What historical continuity means today
The only thing that hasn't changed in padel's more than fifty-year history is the sport's accessibility. There is a surprising similarity in ease of learning between a child taking their first lesson in Beytepe’ today and an adult picking up a racket for the first time in Marbella in the 1970s. This continuity is one of the key elements explaining why padel became a global sport so quickly.
Beytepe's own story: padel as part of a complex
O’Padel Beytepe was founded not just as a standalone sports facility but as part of the O’Wellness Beytepe complex . This matches a trend seen in padel's historical development: over time sport turns from an isolated activity into a holistic lifestyle experience. Fitness, pilates, spa and padel coming together under one roof is the distinctive contribution of this new-generation facility in Ankara.
How can you experience padel history today?
Understanding padel's more than fifty-year history not just by reading but by experiencing it on court is a far more impressive way. When you learn the basic rules and hit your first serve, you actually become part of the tradition Corcuera started in his garden fifty years ago. Noticing this historical bond can add a different respect and enjoyment to the game.
Our padel glossaryis a good resource for those who want to discover the meanings of the Spanish-origin terms (such as bandeja, víbora, chiquita) that emerged on this historical journey.
How learning padel history helps your game
Knowing where padel comes from is not just a curious fact; it also helps you understand the game's terminology and culture more deeply. For example, knowing why Spanish-origin shot names like bandeja and víbora are called what they are can help you remember these names more easily while learning the technique.
The legacy of padel history for future generations
A child who starts at the academy in Beytepe’ today is most likely becoming part of this fifty-year tradition of padel without knowing it. This young generation will determine the future direction of the sport; as technology, institutional structure and global interest grow, it will be exciting to see where padel evolves over the next fifty years.
One last note
The more than fifty-year story of padel lives on in every step you take in Beytepe’ today.
Combining historical knowledge with current practice
Knowing the history of padel makes every match you play today a little more meaningful. When serving, using the glass or trying a bandeja, remembering that you are continuing a fifty-year tradition is a small but valuable awareness that adds to your enjoyment of the sport. You're invited to live this historical bond on our courts in Beytepe’.
The only thing you need to be part of this deep-rooted past is to take the first step.
This story continues to grow and take shape with every new player; you can be a part of it too.
Our courts in Beytepe’ continue to be one of the addresses keeping this fifty-year tradition alive in Ankara.
The more than fifty-year story of padel is actually still being written, and Ankara is a new chapter in it. Whether you're about to pick up a racket for the first time or have been playing for years, on our courts in Beytepe’ you become a local part of this global sport. For a trial lesson or booking, you can reach us on our WhatsApp line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Padel was invented in 1969 by the Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera in the garden of his home in Acapulco.
Spain, as the country with the most courts and players in the world, became the institutional centre of padel; Argentina stood out technically and competitively.
In Turkey, padel began to spread over the last decade, especially through private clubs opening in major cities, with Istanbul at the forefront.
In Ankara, padel has become a fast-growing sport in recent years, helped by the university population in and around Beytepe.
The official rules of padel are set by the International Padel Federation (FIP); in Turkey too, tournaments are organised within this framework.
Padel Courts