Padel (Spanish: pádel) is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court. It has the same scoring system as tennis, but different rules. For example: the rackets are solid (without strings) and perforated. Balls are played off the court walls, similar to squash. A serve must place the ball at or below the waist level in the opposite court. Padel originated in Mexico.
As of 2023, there are more than 25 million active players in more than 90 countries, according to the International Padel Federation (FIP). In 2023, padel was worth about €2bn a year. The Padel World Championship has been held every second year since 1992, with Argentina (every time), Spain, or Brazil reaching the final in each competition.