The racquet sport of padel has seen a surge of interest here in Manchester and it seems the love for the game isn’t stopping any time soon. One of the region’s padel clubs, Manchester Padel Club, has announced it is set to expand by opening four new courts, including a state-of-the-art, tech-enabled covered court, a fitness area and social hub to advance the booming sport.
The new covered court in particular will mark a significant milestone by offering all weather, year-round padel play and perfect for the unpredictable weather we get here in Manchester. The court will also feature the latest smart technology, which allows players to watch their game back and improve their technique.
Located at South Manchester Sports Club in Heald Green, Cheadle, Manchester Padel Club is led by a professional team with decades of experience in international padel. The expansion news comes as the club further establishes its place as a padel centre of excellence by creating a series of UK-wide and international partnerships, as well as hosting prestigious tournaments, including the Adidas 2024 HOP tour on May 18 and 19.
Since opening in July 2023, they have welcomed athletes such as Usain Bolt, David De Gea and Michail Antonio along with players of all levels – from beginners to the Cheshire County Team. Leo Padovani, Director of Padel for Manchester Padel Club, boasts an impressive career history as a former world top 10 player and coach to many of the world’s top players, including 14 times former world number one Juan Martin Diaz, who recently featured in the ITV televised Hexagon Cup.
Leo Padovani said: “We’re establishing a world-class padel academy in Greater Manchester. Having played alongside and coached some of the world’s best players, I’m confident that, with the benefits of our unique training facilities and our team’s experience in padel, we can introduce a whole new level of padel sporting excellence to the region.”
David Thomas, coach and co-founder of Manchester Padel Club, added: “Our club has been one of Manchester’s best kept sporting secrets, which is why we’re excited to finally unveil it. From football to cycling, Manchester has an illustrious history of sporting excellence. Our goal is to extend this tradition to padel, making Manchester Padel Club and the region, the ultimate destination for players of all levels to learn, improve their game and most importantly, have fun.”
The new covered court at Manchester Padel Club will be open from Monday 6th May and can be booked through the Playtomic app. Those interested in tournament entry, representing Manchester Padel Club’s LTA National League teams, coaching, schools programmes or obtaining a membership can do so here.