The sports world in Europe is undergoing a revolution, and this is particularly evident in tennis and padel. These two racket sports, although similar in their competitive spirit, are experiencing very different dynamics in terms of popularity and number of licensees. In this article, we explore the European countries where padel will surpass tennis in 2025, while comparing the number of licensees for the two sports.

Tennis in Europe: Leading countries in terms of number of registered players

Tennis remains a benchmark sport in Europe, with millions of regular players and a large number of licensees. Among the major European countries, France stands out with around 1 million members, making it one of the world's leading tennis nations. Germany, although slightly down, remains strong with between 600,000 and 650,000 members. Italy and Spain follow with around 300,000 to 350,000 members each, while the UK maintains its position with around 400,000 to 450,000 members.

By contrast, other countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands have a more modest number of licensees, generally between 150,000 and 300,000. These figures underline the historical attachment and continuing popularity of tennis in Europe.

1. France: Approximately 1 million members. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is one of the largest in the world.

2. Germany: Approximately 600,000 to 650,000 licensees. The German Tennis Federation (DTB) is also very large, although the number has declined since its heyday.

3. Spain: Approximately 300,000 to 350,000 licensed players. Spain is known for its strong tennis culture, with numerous clubs and academies.

4. Italy: Approximately 300,000 to 350,000 licensed players. Tennis is very popular in Italy, and the number of players has increased in recent years.

5. United Kingdom: Approximately 400,000 to 450,000 licensed players. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) oversees a large player base, particularly around major events such as Wimbledon.

6. Switzerland: Some 200,000 licensed players. Although smaller in size, Switzerland has a great tennis tradition, thanks in large part to figures like Roger Federer.

7. Belgium: Approximately 150,000 to 160,000 licensed players. Tennis is very popular in Belgium, especially with the influence of former Belgian stars.

8. Netherlands: Approximately 250,000 to 300,000 members. Tennis is a popular sport in the Netherlands.

9. Austria: Approximately 150,000 to 200,000 licensed players. Austria has seen a resurgence in interest in tennis with the rise in popularity of Dominic Thiem.

10. Sweden: Approximately 100,000 to 150,000 licensed players. Although less so than in the 1980s, tennis remains a significant sport in Sweden.

11. Russia: Approximately 100,000 to 150,000 licensed players. Russia has a strong tennis tradition, with many young talents emerging.

12. Czech Republic: Approximately 150,000 members. The Czech Republic has a strong tennis tradition, with many top players.

The Rise of Padel: A Sport in Full Growth

Padel, a hybrid sport between tennis and squash, is enjoying a meteoric rise in Europe, attracting more and more players every year. In Spain, where padel is king, the number of licensed players exceeds 100,000, and could well reach 150,000. Italy, France and Sweden are also seeing an explosion in the number of licensees, with figures approaching 50,000 to 60,000 for Italy, 40,000 to 50,000 for France, and 30,000 to 40,000 for Sweden.

Other European countries, such as Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, are experiencing rapid growth, with figures ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 licensees. These trends show that padel is no longer simply a fad, but a discipline that is taking root in Europe.

1. Spain: Approximately 100,000 to 150,000 licensed players. Spain is the European leader in padel, where the sport is extremely popular, almost as much so as tennis.

2. France: Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 licensed players. France is experiencing rapid growth in the number of padel players, with a huge expansion in infrastructure.

3. Italy: Some 50,000 to 60,000 licensees. Italy has seen an explosion in the popularity of padel in recent years.

4. Sweden: Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 members. Padel is experiencing phenomenal growth in Sweden, rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports.

5. Portugal: Some 20,000 to 30,000 licensed players. Padel is very popular in Portugal, especially in big cities like Lisbon and Porto.

6. Belgium: Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 members. Padel is developing rapidly in Belgium, with many new installations.

7. Netherlands: Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 licensees. The Netherlands has seen a sharp increase in the number of padel players in recent years.

8. Germany: Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 licensees. Although the sport is still in its infancy, the number of padel players in Germany is growing.

9. United Kingdom: Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 licensed players. Padel is gaining in popularity in the UK, especially in southern England.

10. Austria: Some 5,000 to 7,000 licensees. Padel is growing in Austria, although it's still relatively new.

2024: European Countries Where Padel Surpasses Tennis

With the rapid growth of padel, many European countries now have more padel players than tennis players. Sweden is the most striking example, where padel has become so popular that it surpasses tennis in terms of the number of players. In Spain, although tennis remains very strong, padel may well overtake tennis in some regions, particularly in urban areas and among the younger generation.

Italy, with its growing passion for padel, could also see the sport overtake tennis in terms of licensees in the coming years. Portugal and Belgium, where padel is developing rapidly, are following suit.

Conclusion: A New Era for Racquet Sports in Europe

Although they share common roots, padel and tennis are now moving in different directions in Europe. While tennis continues to be a major sport with a high number of licensed players, padel is attracting more and more players thanks to its accessibility and user-friendliness.

For racquet sports enthusiasts, more and more brands like My-tennis are being created to accompany this passion off and on the court. Whether you're a tennis player looking to upgrade your equipment or a padel enthusiast in search of the latest trends, our online store offers a complete range of quality products to meet your needs.

Discover our collection of men's, women's and children's clothing, as well as tennis and padel accessories, and get ready to shine on the court, whatever your sport of choice!