Development of women's padel: slowly but surely

While Padel in general has been experiencing a real "BOOM" in most European countries, including France for several years, what about Women's Padel?

Women's Padel in "a few stats"

Before analysing the pillars of development for Women's Padel in France and around the world, here is a quick statistical summary of Padel in general:

According to statistics from Padel Magazine, the number of players in France was estimated at 80,000 in 2019, compared to around 150,000 in 2021: a figure that practically doubled in two years and proves the rise of this sport in our country!

We can therefore imagine that this number grew even further by the end of the first quarter of 2022...

A real gap between men & women

 

 

Now, let's analyse the number of ranked players who play Padel competitively.

Currently in France, there are 16,543 ranked men and 2,690 ranked women. That gives us nearly 20,000 competitive players, a figure that is also growing rapidly, but above all highlights a large gap between female and male competitors: out of 7 ranked players, 6 are men and only 1 is a woman.

The same applies to tournaments: as of 1 September 2021, 1,248 tournaments were recorded, with 71% men's tournaments, 21% women's tournaments, and 8% mixed tournaments.

A gap probably justified by this development policy around women's padel that has not yet been put in place, or at least not sufficiently developed at present.

We therefore have statistics that clearly show the rise of Padel in France, but highlight the importance of developing Women's Padel to reach a certain balance.

Alix Collombon, the Star of French Padel!

 

 

No introduction needed: Alix Collombon, French No. 1, No. 21 on the WPT circuit, and also the first French woman in history to win a WPT tournament title!

The French player, making great strides on the circuit, never fails to amaze us with strong performances, particularly with this brilliant quarter-final run at the WPT Miami Open in her first tournament of the year: a great sign to start 2022!

And even more recently, when Alix was invited by the Chamartin club in Madrid to compete in the Spanish Team Championships, where she won the silver medal after losing in the final against the World No. 1s!

Her results allow her to shine both nationally and internationally, attract numerous sponsors, and above all, make a living from her passion!

Her Spanish journey is going wonderfully; having lived in Spain for two years, Alix had to work relentlessly and adapt to a new language and a new training method to take her game to the next level and join the circuit's top players!

 Little by little, Alix is starting to approach the status of top players on the circuit like Marta Ortega or Beatriz Gonzalez, who are clearly Padel stars in Spain and true benchmarks in the sport. 

There is no doubt that she will have her say on the circuit in the coming years, and that she represents part of the showcase of French Women's Padel: she is an example for many players!

Women's Padel: a perfect style of play for amateurs

 

It is true that we are often impressed by big smashes that fly out of the court, by the powerful play of stars like Tello, Paquito, and many others... but is that really the style of play we should take inspiration from as amateurs? The answer is no!

One thing is certain: taking inspiration from those players is very difficult and often the result isn't the same on our courts... so why not take inspiration from the women's game?

A slower, more measured game, with more structured rallies and better game intelligence: which is what is missing in many matches where players focus on hitting balls out of the court and spectacular shots (which don't come off every time...).

It is fairly easy in a Women's WPT match to break down the patterns of play and tactics used to trouble opponents, while still enjoying watching the rallies.

Analysing matches on the women's circuit is therefore a great way to progress both tactically and technically!

Without forgetting that Padel is also a mixed sport, which you can play with friends, as a couple, between work colleagues, or even between parents/children! It is one of the most enjoyable sports to play for leisure as well as in competition, with more and more tournaments and championships available, such as P25 Parent/Child events, the Padel Business League, or mixed tournaments in all categories!

Padel rackets for female players: what to choose?

As mentioned above, women's padel is in the minority compared to men's, particularly regarding available rackets. It can therefore be difficult to choose between unisex rackets and rackets specifically designed for women. But don't worry, Esprit Padel Shop is here for you!

By clicking on the image, you will access our article on the 6 best rackets for women. With the help of François Authier, French number 7, our team provides you here with its sharp analysis to help you choose the racket best suited to your level and playing style.

Click on this link as well to discover our collection of women's padel rackets at the best prices: https://esprit-padel-shop.com/collections/racket-de-padel-femme