The history of padel in Vienna
Where does padel originally come from?
Padel originated in Mexico in 1969, more by accident than by design. 😉
Enrique Corcuera was an enthusiastic tennis player. Since he didn’t have enough space at home for a regular tennis court, he built a smaller court with walls around it.
From Mexico, padel first spread to Spain and Argentina, where the sport became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Starting in the 2010s, padel finally expanded worldwide, and numerous national associations were founded.
Since then, the popularity of padel has been growing rapidly, and more and more people are discovering the sport for themselves.
You can find more details about its origins at the International Padel Federation.
When did padel come to Vienna?
Padel has been playable in Vienna since July 1, 2014.
On that day, the first padel court was opened near the Ernst Happel Stadium by the Padel Union Vienna club . This made Vienna one of the first locations in Austria where the sport could be played publicly.
In the following years, this led to the construction of additional courts in Vienna and later in other federal states. According to the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation), there were already 10,000 padel players in Austria in October 2021.
Why is padel booming especially in Vienna?
Vienna is a surprisingly good fit for padel: limited space, but plenty of activity.
A court requires significantly less space than a tennis court and works just as well indoors as outdoors: ideal for a densely built city like ours.
For many people, padel has become the perfect after-work activity. Playing in groups of four also offers a great way to meet friends while staying active.
Thanks to the many indoor padel facilities, you can keep playing even in winter without any problems.
Published on May 2nd, 2026 by Gérald Piletta
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