Where Did Padel Come From? The Story of Enrique Corcuera and the First Court in Acapulco
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Padel heritage · Updated June 2026
Padel was invented by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969. He built the first court at his home because the space was too small for tennis. His wife Viviana wrote the first rules. The sport spread to Spain in 1974 via Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe, who built courts at the Marbella Club, and from there to Argentina and the world.
The first padel court: Acapulco, 1969
Enrique Corcuera was a Mexican businessman and tennis enthusiast. His property in Acapulco didn’t have room for a standard tennis court, so rather than abandon the sport he redesigned it. He built a smaller, enclosed court — 20 metres by 10 — surrounded by walls, and crucially decided the walls were in play after a bounce, not out-of-bounds.
His wife Viviana Corcuera formalised the game by writing the first set of rules. That gift — rules for a backyard game — turned a private experiment into a structured sport.
The doubles format was built in from the start: four players, a smaller court, a social game designed around shared enjoyment. Those qualities are why padel spreads so naturally wherever it lands.
How padel spread from Mexico
The critical step came in the early 1970s when Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe visited Corcuera’s home, played padel and immediately saw its potential. He returned to Spain and built the first European padel courts at the Marbella Club. Marbella’s social network did the rest — the sport spread through Spanish club culture across the following decade.
Simultaneously, Julio Menditeguy brought padel to Argentina, where it became one of the country’s most popular sports and produced the first generation of elite players who would later dominate professional padel worldwide.
By 1991 the International Padel Federation had been founded. By the 2000s padel was established across Europe. By 2020 it was the world’s fastest-growing sport. Today, footballers including Beckham, Zidane and Zlatan are involved in the sport, and Andy Murray and Anthony Joshua won a team padel competition in 2026.
Why padel grew faster than other racket sports
- Accessibility: the underarm serve means beginners can compete quickly
- Social format: doubles only — always four players, always a club feel
- Compact courts: cheaper and easier to build than tennis courts
- Tactical depth: the glass walls add a continuous layer of strategy that keeps experienced players engaged
- Latin American and Spanish cultural reach: migration and globalisation spread padel naturally through communities worldwide
The Corcuera name
Corcuera Padel Club is named directly after Enrique Corcuera. Every collection connects back to the 1969 Acapulco origin — the idea that padel began as a social, private, club-first game. That is still what the sport is at its best.
- Enrique Corcuera: who invented padel and why
- Meet the pioneers of padel
- Why padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world
- Why padel is the new golf for business networking
- Our story
Inspired by Acapulco, 1969
Corcuera padel clothing — named after the inventor, designed for players who know the story.
Frequently asked questions
Where did padel originate?
Padel originated in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969, at Enrique Corcuera’s private residence.
Who invented padel?
Enrique Corcuera invented padel in 1969. His wife Viviana wrote the first rules.
When did padel reach Spain?
Padel arrived in Spain in the early 1970s when Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe built the first European courts at the Marbella Club.
Why is padel played in an enclosed court?
Because Enrique Corcuera built the first court in a smaller space than tennis required, using walls as boundaries that were in play rather than out-of-bounds. The walls became a defining feature of the sport.