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Scroll.in ·Future-gazing

How Padel Has Disrupted the Traditional World of Lawn Tennis

by John William Devine, The Conversation

Published 2026-07-05 16:30:00+00:00

Why are the world's best tennis players so bothered by a game with an underarm serve?

0:00 / 6:54 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

The sudden explosion of padel across Britain and India has set off a quiet panic among tennis purists. Players like Novak Djokovic worry the highly social game will empty out traditional local clubs. But in this piece from 5 July 2026, that anxiety runs into a strange historical irony. It turns out padel's wall-bouncing, net-rushing format preserves the original mechanics of medieval racket sports far better than modern lawn tennis ever did.

Show notes

An examination of the tension between traditional lawn tennis and the growing sport of padel. Details the physical and cultural differences that make padel easier for beginners to learn, along with the distinct tactical skills required to master it. Traces the history of racket sports back to the 12th century to argue that the two games can coexist without rivalry.

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