LTA announces new padel strategy for the UK

LTA – the governing body for tennis and padel – has launched a new strategy for padel in Britain, with a vision to open the sport up to more people across the country. The ambition is to grow the sport by making it more accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring.

The new five-year strategy, which covers the period from 2024 to 2029, maintains the LTA’s focus on growing the infrastructure of padel, increasing and diversifying the coaching workforce and building on the performance pathway as well as increasing visibility and driving participation.

Since becoming the national governing body for the sport in 2020, LTA has directed significant funding towards developing and supporting padel. In addition to private investment, the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have invested £6 million into 40 padel facilityprojects, funding a total of 75 new courts, as well as the competition structure, performance support and coach development. LTA has also launched new coaching courses, as well as a performance pathway to support Britain’s best players.

It is estimated that the number of padel courts in the UK has increased from around 50 in 2019 to more than 400 this year (2024). According to LTA figures, annual participation in the same period has grown from 6,000 to 129,000.