Is padel less televisual/telegenic than tennis?

Tennis et padel are two related sports, sharing many similarities, but increasingly often compared. Today, the interest is not in the practice itself, but in the visual aspect of these two yellow ball racket sports when they are broadcast on television.

Tennis is a historic sport, firmly anchored in sporting culture, particularly in France. However, in recent years, padel has established itself as a booming sport, very popular in its practice, and which is now trying to make a place for itself on the small screen.

Patrick Mouratoglou spoke about this on the show The Question Box on Canal +, where he stated that, according to him, tennis remained more attractive on television than padel :

“Tennis is fabulous to watch on TV, I think padel is less so.”

Tennis: a historic sport

Tennis is a historic sport, born in France, and first appeared in the Olympic Games when editingAthens in 1896. After a period of absence, he re-entered the Olympic program in 1992 in Barcelona.

Anchored in global sporting culture, tennis occupies a special place in France, notably thanks to the tournament of Grand Chelem of Roland Garros, organized at Paris for 1928A true institution, this tournament has become an unmissable event for tennis and sports fans in general. It is an integral part of the french heritage.

Tennis is a universal sport, played all over the world, and marked by legendary champions of various nationalities: Rafael Nadal (Spain), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Roger Federer (Swiss), Andy Murray (Scotland), or even Pete Sampras (United States). These iconic figures have managed to unite an international audience and attract millions of viewers around the world.

Considered as comme the king of racket sports, tennis is distinguished by its historic rivalries, its exceptional champions and a tradition dating back more than one hundred yearsA strong sporting heritage that continues to captivate and excite enthusiasts around the world.

Padel : a rapidly growing sport

Padel is a sport derived from tennis, born in 1969 in Mexico, thanks to the Mexican Enrique CorcueraMore recent than its cousin, tennis, padel has enjoyed dazzling popularity in recent years, both in France than in the rest of the world.

Although its growth is global, spain is the leading country in this sport. With 3,5 million practitioners, he even became the third most practiced sport, in front of tennis. Argentina, another historic padel nation, has also been home to a very active community for many years.

Unlike tennis, the stars of padel – although clearly increasing in terms of notoriety – are still mostly Spanish ou Argentines, both in men and women.

Younger, more accessible and often judged more fun, padel has managed to attract a wide audience. Its practice is growing all over the world, with the creation of numerous dedicated infrastructures. Even training centers specialized in tennis now include a padel sector, like the Mouratoglou Academy of the famous French coach Patrick Mouratoglou, or the Rafael Nadal Academy, founded by the Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

The rise of padel sometimes raises concerns among tennis figures. Novak Djokovic expressed his point of view on this development:

“Tennis clubs are in danger… They will be converted to padel or pickleball.”

A statement that highlights the impact of padel on sporting practice, even if this fear concerns more the infrastructure aspect than the television universe.

Audience: contrasting visibility

Tennis: a well-established global audience

Le tennis benefits from a rich international calendar, with tournaments organized throughout the year around the world. Among them, Roland Garros stands out as one of the most historic and publicized tournaments.

Roland-Garros Bleachers — Photo credit Premier Padel

En 2024, 43,3 million French people looked at least one minute of the tournament, a historical record, up by:

2,8 million compared to 2023 (40,5 million)
1,4 million compared to the previous record of 2022 (41,9 million)

La Roland-Garros 2024 final reunited 4 viewers.

Diffusion in clear on public service, in particular by France Télévisions, contributes greatly to broadening the audience and giving a high visibility at the tournament.

On the international level, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) recorded a world audience record with more than a billion viewers en 2023, confirming the global reach of professional tennis.

Padel : a booming audience

Le paddle, for his part, is experiencing a rapid growth on the media level, particularly since the launch of the circuit Premier Padel en 2022This professional circuit is gradually being exported internationally, notably with:

a first edition at USA this season
the organization of stages in prestigious places such as the Roland-Garros stadium for the Paris Major

THEParis Major audience is clearly progressing:

20 000 spectators in 2022.
37 000 in 2023.
64 000 in 2024, of which 13 for the final

Although these figures remain lower than those of tennis, the trend shows a constant increase every year.

In his first year, Premier Padel counted:

over 22 million views
17 million live viewers on the official YouTube channel

The organization relies on a free and accessible broadcasting by broadcasting matches live on YouTube, thus increasing the sport's global exposure. In recent years, the TV rights for these competitions have been found on channels.

En FranceThe group Canal + is the representative with:

the broadcasting of certain meetings
the dedicated show “Evening of Padel"

IMMERSION AT ROLAND-GARROS WITH CANAL+ FROM OCTOBER 3 TO 6

The television aspect: two very different renderings

Although the tennis and paddle are both played with a snowshoeing and yellow ball, they offer very different visual experiences to the television, because of their rules, formats et playing styles.

Tennis: power, rhythm and variety of surfaces

Le tennis is based on a system of seasons according to the surfaces of play, with three main categories:

major
clay
grass

These surfaces strongly influence the style of play, bounces, ball speed and duration of rallies. Modern tennis, particularly with the new generation of players, is characterized by a increased power, exchanges mainly at the back of the court, and an net climb become rarer.

This style creates a certain intensity on screen, reinforced by the changes of rhythm depending on the surface. The format in one on one also allows to highlight individualities and psychological duels, closely followed by viewers.

Padel : collective dynamics and net play

Le paddle, he plays exclusively two foldEither four players on the field, which constitutes a major differenceThis format may appeal to some for its appearance. collective and strategic, while others prefer the direct confrontation of tennis.

The game is more Diverse catalog, with specific padel shots like the viper, the tray or bajada, often linked to the use of windows and to spectacular recoveriesThe pace of exchanges depends on several factors:

la track speed (very quick to Santiago, slower to Miami, for example)
le players' style

The main objective in padel is to take the net to dominate the exchange, unlike tennis where the majority of points are now played in the backgroundThis positioning makes the exchanges more dynamic and sometimes more readable for the spectators.

Strengths and weaknesses of television

Tennis

Most:

Un historical sport with a global reach, practiced in many countries.
Personalized legendary duels between champions, notably with the famous Big Three (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic).
The tournaments Grand Chelem, very followed, with a special format (3 winning sets for the men).
A general public broadcasting, notably thanks to public channels like France Télévisions, which ensure broad visibility.
Le surface change (grass, clay, hard) sets the pace for the season, brings variety to the game and offers a constantly renewed and attractive visual effect.

Cons:

A game increasingly based on the power, with services and exchanges often shortened, especially in men.
Lots of stoppages in play, which can harm the rhythm.

Padel

Most:

Un double game, with some players' associations which evolve regularly, making the hierarchy more dynamic.
A varied palette of strokes : bajada, bandeja, vibora, lob, smash, etc.
Few stoppages in play, which promotes a sustained rhythm on the screen.
Sometimes exchanges spectacular with the use of windows.
A very game strategic.

Cons:

Un young sport, which does not yet have a great history or media tradition.
A TV coverage still limited in France, without regular broadcasting throughout the year.

So is padel less telegenic/televisual than tennis?

Less “television”?

This means that it is more difficult to film or to make it captivating on television. There are several reasons why this perception may be:

Land size : smaller, so less space for the cameras, which complicates the readability of the game.
Speed and rebounds on the windows : the balls often change direction, which can confuse the uninitiated viewer.
Camera angles : It is sometimes difficult to find an angle that shows both the strategy and the dynamics of the exchanges. The classic front shot is not always enough.
Multiplicity of exchanges : points last longer, with many balls defended, which can be confusing for an audience accustomed to direct tennis shots.

Less “telegenic”?

“Telegenic” refers to the aesthetics and visual presentation of a sport or athlete on screenIn this respect, padel has advantages:

Spectacular, very lively and dynamic exchanges.
Frequent reversals of situation in the points.
Closeness to the public thanks to smaller courts and often in an arena.

More The absence of high-profile stars like Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer makes it harder for the general public to identify with them. The storytelling around the players is still under construction.

Padel is not inherently less televisual or telegenic, but he still suffers from:

technical production choices could be improved,
lack of standardization of broadcasts,
and an audience less familiar with its codes.

With progress on the audiovisual production (side cameras, drones, dynamic replays) and an effort of player media coverage, padel has real potential to become as captivating as tennis on television.

Two visions, two television experiences

Le tennis and paddle are two very distinct practices, both in their way of playing and in their visual rendering on television.

Le tennis, with its strong history, its champions and its global influence, remains firmly established in the television landscape, helped in particular by the broadcast on public channels.

Le paddle, in full flight, seduced by his accessibility, spectacular game and audience growing sharply, both online and in stadiums. He is gradually establishing his benchmarks, with attendance records and growing craze around major events.

In the end, there is no no absolute answer : it all depends on your sensitivity, what you are looking for in a sport, and your personal view on the television aspect.

Nicolas Fillaudeau

A big sports enthusiast and former tennis player, I discovered padel a few years ago without really focusing on it. Then I became addicted to this sport by practicing it and watching the premier padel matches. Looking forward to sharing the 2025 news with you!