Tennis icon Judy Murray officially unveiled three state-of-the-art padel courts at Scotstoun Leisure Centre on Monday, April 20. The opening event welcomed the first players onto the courts and marked a significant addition to Glasgow’s sporting facilities.
A growing sport in Scotland
Padel, often described as a mix between tennis and squash, has seen rapid growth across Europe and is now expanding in Scotland. Murray highlighted its appeal: “There’s been a massive spike in interest in padel across Scotland in recent years, so it’s fantastic to see courts opening at Glasgow Club Scotstoun.”
She added: “Padel is massively popular in Europe and is best described as a mash-up between tennis and squash. It’s mostly played as doubles and it’s fun, doable, sociable and inclusive.”
Exhibition matches and student sessions
Following the ribbon-cutting, Murray joined padel coach John Byrne and leading Scottish players in an exhibition match. Students from the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde then took part in taster sessions, experiencing the sport firsthand.
Facilities and accessibility
Glasgow Life converted two of Scotstoun’s indoor tennis courts into three padel courts, delivered in partnership with Alliance Leisure Services. George Hunter, Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity, and Communities at Glasgow Life, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming players onto Glasgow Club Scotstoun’s new padel courts and giving more people a chance to play one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.”
The courts are open daily, with hours ranging from 6am to 10pm on weekdays and reduced schedules on weekends. Prices are set at £28 per doubles game, or £7 per adult player, with discounted rates for juniors and seniors. Equipment hire is available, ensuring accessibility for newcomers.
Community reaction and controversy
The project faced opposition when plans were announced, as two tennis courts were sacrificed for the new facilities. A petition launched on Change.org gathered over 1,200 signatures, with campaigners expressing frustration at the reduction of tennis space. Despite this, the padel courts have now opened, offering Glasgow residents a new way to engage with racquet sports.
