Padel is the latest emerging sport on private markets’ radar, but achieving returns requires looking further than the sport’s core infrastructure.

Private capital is mobilising around a threat to tennis’s racket sport predominance. Padel, a lower-intensity alternative, is rapidly gaining momentum and capturing the attention of investors.

According to the Global Padel Report 2026 from PWC’s Strategy& team and community racket sport app Playtomic, the sport attracted nearly 20 million players worldwide in 2025, more than double the figure from 2021.

While the surge in participation has sparked enthusiasm among investors, experts caution that sustainable returns may depend on identifying opportunities beyond courts and equipment, such as media rights, franchising, and technology platforms.