Players from across the world will descend on Whetstone for the third-annual Home of Padel (HOP) London Padel Open tournament this week.
The tournament at Padel Hub will see competitors battling it out in the doubles racquet sport for ranking points in the International Padel Federation (FIP) tour and a part of the £10,000 prize fund.
The event, sponsored by Alpine and supported by the LTA, is free to attend with tickets available online.
HOP Co-founder John Leach said: “It’s an opportunity to see some really really good padel players.
“Having a home tournament, the Brits will be super excited to come and try to showcase their padel to the local spectators, and also try to boost their ranking.”
Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with the number of courts growing from 150 at the end of 2022, to 280 just one year later.
Leach described the sport as being a cross between tennis and squash, which is played in pairs, and favoured for its sociability.
He said: “Most people, once they’ve jumped on court and tried it, they love it.
“I think the reason behind that is that it’s actually quite easy to pick up a racquet and enjoy.
“From a technical point, I think you probably get more reward in that than other racquet sports.”
The players in this tournament compete all year round on the FIP tour, and this tournament provides an opportunity for them to collect some valuable ranking points.
The contest will be particularly important for the British players, as it will have a great impact on selection for the national team ahead of the European Championships in July.
Besides the padel matches, spectators will be able to enjoy a bar, outdoor area, food stands, and live DJ, while noted broadcaster Rob Curling is set to host.
Home of Padel runs tournaments across the country, on both professional and amateur levels.
Tickets are available via the Home of Padel website.
Picture credit: Home of Padel
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