What do Cristiano Ronaldo, your coworker, and half of your Instagram feed have in common? They’ve probably played padel—or are obsessed with it. Once a niche sport tucked away in the backyards of Latin America, padel has exploded into a worldwide sensation. Combining the best elements of tennis and squash, this highly social, fast-paced sport has found a loyal and ever-growing fanbase across Europe—and Cyprus has eagerly jumped on the bandwagon.

In the last few years, we’ve seen padel courts popping up all over Cyprus, weekend tournaments gaining traction, and group chats forming just to schedule the next match. So what exactly is padel, where did it come from, and why is everyone suddenly playing it?

Padel’s story begins in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico—almost by accident. A wealthy businessman named Enrique Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court at his holiday home, but space constraints got in the way. So, he improvised. He built a smaller version of a tennis court enclosed with walls, allowing the ball to bounce off them mid-play, just like in squash. To complete the hybrid, he kept most of the rules of tennis, but with a few tweaks to match the new layout.

His creation didn’t go unnoticed. Spanish friends who visited Corcuera’s house found the game fascinating and took it back to Europe. By the mid-1970s, Spain had fallen in love with padel, rapidly developing local clubs and forming competitive leagues. Argentina followed suit, and today, both countries remain at the top of the global padel scene, producing some of the world’s most celebrated players.

This unintentional innovation transformed into a structured sport—with its own federations, tournaments, and even celebrity endorsements. It was the kind of game that didn’t need a big learning curve to be fun, and that accessibility played a massive role in its global rise.

Padel has slowly but surely become a lifestyle. Part of its appeal lies in how easy it is to pick up. Unlike tennis, where technique takes time to master, padel is beginner-friendly. The court is smaller, the racket is solid and lightweight, and the walls keep the ball in play longer, leading to exciting, fast-paced rallies that are more forgiving for novices.

But perhaps the biggest reason for its popularity is its social nature. Padel is played in doubles by default, which makes it a perfect activity for couples, friends, coworkers, and even family members. It’s the kind of sport that blends competition with connection. You can break a sweat, get a laugh, and enjoy a post-match coffee or smoothie with your teammates—all within an hour.

In Cyprus, where community and lifestyle go hand-in-hand, the sport naturally found fertile ground. With its sunny weather, health-conscious population, and love of casual sports, it’s no surprise that padel is flourishing here. From organized corporate tournaments to casual weekend meetups, padel has quickly become the sport everyone wants to try. 

Cyprus has embraced padel with open arms, and a range of clubs and centers have popped up across the island to meet demand. Here are some of the most popular places where you can grab your racket and join the action:

Nicosia:

• Mywelpad - Located at 67 Lemessos Avenue, Vision Tower, 4th floor, 2121 Nicosia, Mywelpad offers state-of-the-art indoor padel courts. They are official representatives of SkyPadel and Babolat Padel Courts, ensuring top-quality facilities.

• Nicosia Padel Club - Situated behind the Kapnos airport shuttle service, this club provides modern courts and equipment rentals. They offer flexible booking options, including 60, 90, and 120-minute sessions. 

• Eleon Tennis Club - Located at 8 Vasili Michaelides Street, Engomi, this club offers a serene environment with courts surrounded by lush trees. They provide professional coaching and programs for all skill levels. 

Limassol:

• The Tennis Academy Limassol - Located on Eleutherias Avenue, Palodia, this academy offers padel tennis courts and training classes for all levels. Bookings can be made through the Playtomic app.

• Padel Magic - Situated in Ypsonas, Padel Magic provides a vibrant experience for players of all levels, with courts open daily from 07:00 AM to midnight. They offer free racket rentals with reservations. 

• Nais Sports Club Limassol - Located in the heart of Limassol, NAIS Sports Club features six padel courts, including unique 1v1 courts, and offers facilities like mini football and FootPadel. Bookings are available via Playtomic. 

Larnaca:

• Wembley Park Athletic Center - Based in Xylofagou, this center offers three top padel and futsal courts, available for booking through Playtomic. 

• Padelegro - Located at Mikras Asias 18, Larnaca 7530, Padelergo is renowned for its quality courts and is a preferred choice for both casual and competitive players. 

• Larnaca Padel Club - Situated conveniently between Rizoelia junction and Larnaca International Airport, this club offers two modern, professional padel courts for exercise and recreation. 

Paphos:

• Alana Sports Centre - Located in Geroskipou, Alana Sports Centre features three high-quality padel courts and offers a variety of other sports facilities and amenities. 

• Aphrodite Hills Resort - Set in the heart of Paphos, Aphrodite Hills Resort boasts two padel courts within its Tennis Academy, offering coaching services and court hire for all standards.

Protaras/Ayia Napa: 

• Capo Bay Padel Courts - Located at Capo Bay Hotel in Protaras, this facility offers brand new panoramic padel courts just a five-minute walk from the beach. 

• Marina Padel Court - Situated within Ayia Napa Marina, this state-of-the-art, fully automated court provides an exceptional experience for padel enthusiasts of all skill levels. 

• Padel Paradise Cyprus - Based in Ayia Napa, Padel Paradise Cyprus offers beachfront padel holidays with luxurious accommodations and world-class facilities, ideal for a sports and leisure getaway. 

If you’re a padel lover—or even a curious newbie—get ready for a weekend of adrenaline, competition, and fun. Kerkida.net, together with Carlsberg 0.0, is hosting the Kerkida Padel Tournament by Carlsberg 0.0, a two-day event dedicated to the sport’s growing community in Cyprus. The tournament will take place in Limassol and promises exciting matches, a lively atmosphere, and lots of action both on and off the court.

Location: Padel K, Limassol

Dates: May 24–25, 2025

Categories: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Prizes:

• €1,000 for the winner of the Advanced category

• €400 for the Intermediate category winner

• Luxury hotel stay for the Beginner category winner

Registration is now open via Playtomic.io

 

 

 

 

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