Padel news: Padel vs tennis - similarities and differences
Padel is constantly compared to tennis, considering both sports use a racket and have similar-looking courts.
The comparison is understandable, but that is where the similarities end.
How the sports are played and tournaments are organised creates a clear distinction between the two.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire discusses how two of the most popular racket sports differ from one another.
Styles of play
Tennis is notoriously known as a ‘lonely man’s game’ with players competing individually for prize money, racking up points.
Regarding doubles matches, two players per team assemble to challenge each other. These players generally compete in singles competition.
In padel however, the sport is only played with a partner, with the top-two seeds usually teaming up.
Most padel-partnerships last a season, while in tennis, mixed-doubles pairs can rotate team-mates regularly, depending on the competition.
Furthermore, the style of play is all about creative plays, powerful shots and court coverage.
READ MORE: Padel news: ‘Padel is the most inclusive sport in the world’ – Paralympian Alessandro Ossola
Tournament layout
The 2025 Premier Padel calendar is created to build anticipation towards the Tour Finals at the end of the season, featuring the eight best male and female couples of the season.
Four majors (Qatar, Italy, France and Mexico) are played, followed by the P1s and P2s before the Tour Finals.
Winners of the Majors earn 2,000 ranking points. That amount decreases in P1 and P2 competitions.
The winning duo of the Tour Finals will earn an extra 1,500 ranking points.
The tennis season, on the other hand, is organised differently.
Starting in Australia at the beginning of the calendar year, players compete in different Master Championships around the world on different types of courts (clay, grass and hard).
They have the opportunity to pick up prize money and ranking points.
Grand Slams are the most important tournaments in the calendar and have the largest prize pool for players.
Aside from monetary value, the four Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open) are where all the top-seeded players compete and deliver competitive tennis for the players and fans to enjoy.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Racing driver Sebastián Montoya makes a racket about padel after completing 2025 Formula 2 season
Taking notice
The biggest difference between the two sports is the popularity.
Despite padel being the fastest-growing sport in the world right now, it still has a long way to catch up to the commercial success of tennis.
Tennis’ long-standing foothold in the sporting world is unlikely to be lifted soon, and in many ways, it is growing due to social media exposure and constantly obtaining young stars.
With its TV sponsorship with Red Bull TV, padel is slowly breaking into the global, commercial space.
And while tennis should not be concerned about a hostile takeover from its counterpart, fans of racquet sports should be thrilled, as they're spoiled for choice with what's on offer for an enthralling viewing experience.
READ NEXT: Padel news: Agustín Tapia, Arturo Coello and the top players on the Premier Padel world tour
