Formerly recognised as an international sport in September 2019, padel is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports by participation.

It's the new buzzword on the Dubai fitness scene and there's a multitude of places to play. Invented in 1969 in Mexico by Enrique Corcuera, padel is predominately played as a doubles game, and it’s very similar to regular tennis with a bit of squash thrown in for good measure.

The court is smaller and has glass walls, which can also be used during play. Keeping score is the same as regular tennis, you go up 15, 30, 40, game. Sometimes it is called padel tennis, which can be confusing as there’s another sport called paddle tennis, which is similar but doesn’t use walls. In November, Dubai-based NAS Sports Complex coaches Javier Lopez and Sergio Icardo sealed glory at the inaugural Dubai Padel Cup. The duo notched a 6-4, 6-4 win over Portugal’s Sebastian Mendonca and Spain’s Antonio Cardona in the men’s final.

The month-long padel tennis fiesta, which has thrust the UAE onto the global padel map, was attended by record daily crowds and followed an eclectic schedule of high-profile exhibition matches played on a purpose-built court at Jumeriah Emirates Towers. Free clinics took place across the city for beginners and those looking to give it a go can now book sessions at Padel Pro, Just Padel, as well as Smash Padel and Fitness Club. Go on, give it a go!

www.smash.ae; www.padelpro.com; www.justpadel.ae