The Next Big Thing: Get to know padel, the country’s current favourite sport

Dawn added that they try to keep it casual at Manila Padel Club so that beginners will be enticed to learn the sport. “Manila Padel Club isn’t just about providing courts; it’s about cultivating the Manila Padel experience—a unique blend of accessibility, community and passion. We offer a variety of courts catering to all skill levels, with beginner-friendly options and introductory programmes to remove barriers to entry. A welcoming atmosphere with comfortable viewing areas and friendly staff puts everyone at ease.”

She emphasised that Manila Padel Club is more than just a place to play. “We foster a thriving community through structured training programmes, social events and designated areas for post-game gatherings.”

Dawn stressed their keenness on building different groups at the Manila Padel Club, hoping to maintain and expand them further through the years since the club is the first dedicated padel facility in the country. 

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“This focus on community reflects our culture’s emphasis on connection, allowing players to build friendships and a sense of belonging,” shared Dawn. “We offer pioneering expertise and a gateway to the international padel scene. The Manila padel experience goes beyond the sport itself; it’s about discovering a new passion and becoming part of a vibrant community. Step onto our courts and experience the difference!” 

Dawn shared that the Manila Padel Club has already become a hub for padel enthusiasts in Asia. At the same time, they have had the privilege to host several local and international tournaments that have helped elevate the country’s profile in padel and attract players and fans worldwide.

Dawn also recently represented the club at the Padel World Summit, where she shared the stage with key personalities in the industry, exchanging views on topics such as “Women’s Padel” and “Developing Padel in Emerging Countries”. The co-founder of the Manila Padel Club sees these exposures as opportunities to contribute to the growth of the sport in the Philippines. “I am honoured to contribute to these discussions, offering insights and fostering partnerships that will shape the future of the padel industry.”

When asked about the Philippines’ current outstanding padel players, Dawn spotlighted Jessica Agra, who currently ranks second in the Asia Pacific Padel Tour. Agra is proof that the country has what it takes to triumph in the racquet sport in the coming years. 

With Dawn’s vision to provide Filipinos with high-quality courts and foster a thriving padel community across the country, the CEO of Manila Padel Club revealed that they are currently in the works to expand the padel club beyond its prime location in BGC and a second location in Arcovia City. Five more branches will be expected in Alabang, Quezon City, Makati, Mactan and Sta Rosa in the next 12 months.

Apart from the Manila Padel Club, another group is bent on promoting the sport. Padel Pilipinas is its national association, receiving recognition from both the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. It has been in motion to further padel as one of the leading sports in the country.

Padel Pilipinas was founded by Senator Pia Cayetano, who now sits as president. Ever eager to try new things, she was attracted to the sport, loved it and shared the padel experience with others. It’s an easy sport to learn and play with friends, she said, but it can also get competitive if you enjoy a challenge.

In hopes to make the racquet sport more known to Filipinos, Cayetano sat down with like-minded people to discuss how padel can contribute to the Philippine sports scene. After much discussion, Padel Pilipinas was established.

Dawn, through the Manila Padel Club, and Cayetano, through Padel Pilipinas, are gung-ho on making padel a more prominent sport in the Philippines. If not for their belief in padel and determination to promote it, the sport may not have been known here.

Cayetano shared that her involvement in sports policy-making and legislation has played a huge role in organising the official padel federation of the Philippines. “We recognise that growing a sport requires a multi-dimensional approach. Our goal is to make padel accessible to all Filipinos, as reflected in our vision, ‘Padel Para Sa Lahat’. To achieve this, we are implementing grassroots programmes to raise awareness and identify talents, train coaches and develop our national team through local and international training and competitions.”

Padel, played in doubles, is often confused with tennis. On closer look at the court, racquets and the game rules, the differences become evident. Playing the sport itself also brings out its clear distinction from tennis.

Padel Pilipinas head coach Bryan Casao adds that the sport also shares similarities with squash, a racquet sport played in an enclosed court by hitting the ball on the walls. “The use of walls adds a layer of complexity and excitement, as players must think creatively and adapt their strategies during the game. Padel, because it is played in doubles, fosters a strong sense of teamwork and communication. Its social nature and relatively quick learning curve make it an excellent choice for recreational play and competitive matches.”

Padel is rapidly growing in the country. More and more courts and training facilities are built and made easily available for recreational and competitive purposes.

To sustain the sport’s growth, Padel Pilipinas Secretary-General Duane Santos said they’ve been busy partnering with local governments to conduct padel clinics nationwide. Additionally, they have engaged with student-athletes and coaches from prominent universities like UP-Diliman, DLSU Lawn Tennis Team, UST, PUP and Rizal Technological University. The federation also sees training their athletes and coaches as equally important—so as padel advances, their athletes and coaches will, too.

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One cannot simply talk about padel without mentioning the significance of communities, new and old. After all, the sport is always played in groups, which is fundamentally what a community is about.

“The community, both local and international, is beyond comparison. I can travel anywhere in Asia, Europe or South America and the community will help me find a game and connect me to like-minded and equally addicted players,” said Santos.

Apart from the growing number of padel players in the Philippines, Padel Pilipinas shared some of its accomplishments since the sport emerged.

Santos said that they’ve reached some significant milestones recently: their recognition as the country’s official padel federation by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission and getting to host national tournaments such as the Play Padel Open in October 2023, the Baler National Open and the Philippine Open 2024.

Adding to their list of accomplishments, Padel Pilipinas has sent their athletes and coaches to train in Spain and Portugal, where padel is prominent. Santos said that Padel Pilipinas is also continuously organising grassroots initiatives nationwide to reach more participants, particularly student-athletes and the youth, and encourage them to get into padel.         

With all the necessities laid out—courts, players, coaches and equipment—it’s safe to say that when more significant competitions like the Southeast Asian Games and Olympics add padel to its roster, winning isn’t a far-fetched possibility for
the Philippines.

“We have several players in the top 20 of the Asian Pro Tour. We are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Asian padel scene,” said Santos. Adding to what Santos shared, Cayetano went on to recognise some players who have already achieved notable success for the Philippines: the National Padel Team’s Derrick Santos and his partner, Kim Ben Attar, secured first runner-up in the Mix Open Finals at the Asia Pacific Padel Tournament in Hong Kong last April; just recently, Padel Pilipinas player Joseph Serra and Japanese player Hayato Nakahashiki won the Male Open at the Hong Kong Padel Open 2024.

These achievements notwithstanding, padel in the Philippines is not one to rest. The Manila Padel Club and Padel Pilipinas plan to continue making the sport known through programmes and trainings created and hosted by professionals in the field. Furthermore, increased courts and facilities are also in the works to ensure padel’s accessibility to all, anywhere in the country.

“Unlike solo pursuits or activities with limited interaction, padel thrives on teamwork and friendly competition. The court fosters communication and camaraderie as you strategise with your partner, celebrate victories and laugh off those inevitable blunders. Padel goes beyond the physical workout, offering a strong sense of belonging. It’s a place to meet like-minded people, share your passion for the sport and create lasting memories,” shared Dawn.

Padel helps build connections with other players and fosters friendships. In the Philippines, padel has the potential to become the next popular sport. 

“I’ve always believed that sports can change lives. With the proper implementation of programmes, we can build a healthier sports-minded nation,” said Cayetano.

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