Are Britons doing padel all wrong? What London's first Premier Padel event revealed

The UK's first professional Premier Padel event at Kensington Olympia drew roughly 20,000 spectators across six days and a £410,000 prize pot - and it also held up an uncomfortable mirror to the British game. None of the six British wild cards made an impression apart from Christian Medina Murphy, the world No 173 who grew up in Cadiz, while the Spanish contingent showed just how far ahead they remain. Court numbers here have grown from about 100 in 2021 to close to 2,000 today, and the UK now has roughly a million regular players, but Spain still counts around six million. Coaches Tom and Sandy Farquharson of The Padel School argue the gap is about learning, not enthusiasm: most recreational players in Britain sit between beginner and low intermediate because padel is so instantly fun that people simply keep playing matches instead of taking lessons. Sandy Farquharson, a former touring tennis pro, recalls being thrashed in Spain by 50-year-olds still finishing their cigarettes as they walked on court. The professional game on show in London was a lesson in patience and geometry - average rallies of about 10 shots for men and 12 for women, built on lobs, chiquitas and disguised viboras rather than raw power, with the smash only unleashed once opponents have been manoeuvred out of position. The takeaway for UK players: watch the pros, slow the ball down, learn the bandeja and vibora properly, and book a coaching session before your next social game. Read Simon Briggs' full report at The Telegraph.