London P1: Historic first Premier Padel event in the UK signals growth

What's happened

London hosts the first Premier Padel event in England as Olympia hosts London P1. The event is sold out across four days, drawing 20,000 fans. World No.1 duo Coello and Tapia lead the field; British players participate, with Medina Murphy delivering a standout home performance before a last-32 exit. Organisers anticipate a bigger, better edition next year.

What's behind the headline?

Insightful Analysis

• The London P1 marks a deliberate push by Premier Padel to tap new markets, leveraging a high-profile pairing (Coello/Tapia) to catalyse local interest.
• British participation is seen as essential to sustaining growth; Medina Murphy’s performance demonstrates the potential for homegrown talent to ride the surge in interest.
• Organisers are already discussing improvements and longer-term commitment, signaling a multi-year strategy rather than a one-off event.
• The move could shift padel’s geography, turning London into a new hub if the market sustains fan engagement and investment.
• Look for future announcements on venue upgrades, marketing beyond sports circuits, and enhanced pathways for British players to reach elite levels.

How we got here

London hosts the UK’s inaugural Premier Padel event as part of a growing global calendar. The event aims to showcase padel’s expansion beyond traditional markets, aided by the Lawn Tennis Association and Sela, with plans to invest in local talent and future tournaments.

Our analysis

Independent coverage highlights sell-out crowds and star power; additional context from Sela and LTA outlines national development plans; focus on local talent and future editions. Quotes from Coello, Tapia, and Sela executives illustrate the event’s momentum.

Go deeper

• Will London become a permanent padel hub in the UK?
• How will British players leverage this event for long-term development?
• What improvements are being planned for next year?

More on these topics

• Kensington - District within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in central London

  Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around 2.9 miles (4.6 km) west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensington Gardens, containing the Albert Memorial, the Serpentine Gallery and Speke's monument. South Kensington and Gloucester Road are home to Imperial College London, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Science Museum. The area is also home to many embassies and consulates.

• London - Capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom

  London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River...

• Carlos Alcaraz - Spanish tennis player

  Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player. Alcaraz has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 75 achieved on 21 June 2021.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• Lawn Tennis Association - British tennis association

  The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The organisation was founded in 1888 and seven-time Wimbledon champion William Renshaw was elected as its first president.