26.04.2025
Why padel may be the next gentleman’s sport
Once reserved for tradition-bound sports like polo and tennis, the title of “gentleman’s sport” may now belong to padel. Discover how figures like Nadal and Zidane are reshaping its future, and why modern aristocracy may no longer wear crowns.

Words: Raja Izz
The floating padel court surrounded by yachts in the Miami Harbor.
Credit: Courtesy of Yntegra Group
We used to think that gentleman sports must honor tradition, promote a sense of grace and decorum, and most importantly, be backed by the aristocracy - royalty and nobility who served as the patrons and protectors of such pursuits.
Tennis. Polo. Equestrian. These were not just sports; they were statements of class.
But what if padel were the next gentleman sport?



