If Andy Murray and Virgil van Dijk are right, padel, a hybrid of squash and tennis characterised by an addictive “pock” sound, is poised to break out as the next big UK participation sport.
Better, one of the country’s biggest leisure centre chains, is preparing its first courts for mass use, councils are planning municipal courts and a company backed by the tennis champion and the Liverpool FC player expects to erect courts in at least 50 venues by the end of 2023.
