Blog post: UK among nations driving the padel surge

A new study suggests the United Kingdom is among the European countries with most interest in padel, as the sport continues its rapid expansion, writes Andy Weltch.

Research by iGaming specialist Martynas Norvilas analysed monthly Google search volumes for 12 terms relating to padel across European countries.

The search volumes were then compared against 2025 population figures to identify which countries most actively seek padel-related updates.

The UK ranks sixth, with an average of 113 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, a 157% higher search interest than the European average of 44.

Gibraltar ranks first (299 searches per 100,000), followed by Netherlands (237), Monaco (156), Leichtenstein (150), and Norway (137).

So, as with Norvilas's survey on soccer transfers, small countries tend to feature prominently.

The United Kingdom, with 69.6 million residents, recorded an average of 78,370 monthly searches for padel-related terms, such as “padel clubs,” “padel courts near me,” “padel rackets,” and “padel lessons.”

Norvilas commented: “The UK’s large population and high total search volume make it one of the key growth markets for padel in Europe. Demand for courts and clubs indicates that infrastructure is catching up with interest. With London and other major cities already opening new padel facilities, the UK could soon become a central hub for the sport in northern Europe.”

It's been hard to miss the sport's rapid growth, with facilities springing up to meet demand. Padel is said to be easier than tennis for beginners, due to the smaller court and slower ball speed.

It will be interesting to see if its phenomenal momentum continues.

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