New £1m tennis centre set to host world championship qualifiers

We Are Padel, a new £1 million padel tennis centre in Derby, is set to host qualifiers for the sport’s world championships.

From Friday to Sunday, the centre, which has been created at the former Powerleague football centre, on Pride Park, will welcome some of the best padel players in Europe.

The event is the European qualification tournament for the XVI World Padel Championship, which will be held in Dubai later this year.

Padel is a racket sport usually played in doubles, on a court around a third of the size of a standard tennis court but using the same scoring system.

However, players can play the ball off the walls that enclose a court, like in squash, with solid bats used.

The Derby centre has undergone major refurbishment work ahead of the tournament, which will see 17 male teams and 13 female teams compete.

Rosco Muller, UK country manager at We Are Padel, said: “We are delighted to be the host of this amazing event.

“My team is already preparing to make sure everything is ready on time.

“As We Are Padel is on boarding in the UK with our beautiful sport, it’s events like these that will create the perfect awareness for Padel.”

Matches will start from 9am each day with food and drink provided at a newly refurbished bar and by Sadler Catering and the nearby Mezzo healthy-eating restaurant.

To register for free tickets to the qualifiers visit here.