Padel's Gender Imbalance: Women Dangerously Underrepresented in UK Boom
The explosive growth of padel in the United Kingdom has revealed a troubling demographic disparity, with official figures showing women and girls are at risk of being marginalised in one of the nation's fastest-growing sports. According to the Lawn Tennis Association, which governs padel, a mere thirty per cent of participants are female, highlighting a significant equality problem that threatens to undermine the sport's inclusive potential.
LTA Acknowledges the Challenge and Pledges Action
Tom Murray, head of padel at the Lawn Tennis Association, has publicly addressed the issue, emphasising the organisation's commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women and girls. "As the national governing body, the LTA is dedicated to opening up padel and breaking down barriers," Murray stated. The association's She Rallies initiative aims to transform both tennis and padel into genuinely gender-balanced sports through targeted measures.
These efforts include collaborating with venues nationwide to ensure fully inclusive environments and introducing dedicated women and girls-only sessions. Such initiatives are designed to foster welcoming, supportive spaces that build confidence and connection among female participants, addressing the structural obstacles that currently limit their involvement.
Grassroots Initiatives Lead the Charge for Change
Pepita Stonor, founder of Empower Padel, identified the gender gap shortly after taking up the sport in 2020. "It was social and fun, but there were no women," she recalled, describing her initial experiences. Recognising an unmet demand, Stonor established Empower Padel in September 2024 to actively encourage women to engage with and remain in the sport.
Stonor highlights padel's accessibility as a key advantage for attracting female players, particularly those who may be new to sports. "When I reached my late forties and encountered women who had never played sport before, I realised that padel is easy to take up—though difficult to master—compared to more technical sports like tennis or golf," she explained. Her organisation now boasts a database of 2,500 women, runs numerous events, and aspires to become the world's largest community of female padel players.
A Critical Window for Addressing Systemic Issues
Stonor argues that the current period represents a unique opportunity to rectify the gender imbalance while padel is still in its relative infancy in the UK. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance," she asserted, noting that unlike established sports such as football, where efforts often involve undoing entrenched inequalities, padel can start fresh with equitable foundations.
However, challenges persist even in countries with longer padel traditions, like Spain and Argentina, where social participation may be more balanced but competitive levels show a stark disparity—only 28 per cent of top players are women according to a recent report. In the UK, junior competitions frequently cancel girls' events due to insufficient participation, exacerbating the cycle of exclusion.
Stonor calls for a collective effort from the padel community, urging players, parents, and relatives to actively involve girls in the sport. "It's down to everyone playing padel to think about whether their sisters, nieces, or goddaughters play, and to make a real effort to bring them onto the court," she emphasised. This proactive approach is essential to ensuring padel's growth does not leave women behind, transforming it into a truly inclusive sport for all.
