Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United Kingdom, and Frankie Langan has been leading the charge, both on and off the court.
Born in Barking in 1993, Frankie moved with his family to Spain at the age of seven. Originally focused on tennis, he fell in love with padel as the sport was already hugely popular in the country, offering many social benefits.
“It was taken as seriously back then,” Frankie told Fen Regis Trophies. “Padel was only really played in Spain…I would play tennis and then padel on the side.
“I used to play padel tournaments in the summer, but I was mainly a tennis player.”
By the age of 14, padel was more than a recreational addition as it became a focus for Frankie, though he would continue to consider himself more of a tennis player for a few years yet.
“I was competing in tennis until I was 18,” said Frankie. “I stopped playing tennis, and I got an opportunity because I played a lot of padel and I was good at it.
“I was the number one in Great Britain, and I got some sponsorship [to play].”
Returning to Padel
While padel was huge in Spain at the time Frankie began taking the game seriously, it was still very much in its infancy in the United Kingdom. Tennis, squash and badminton still ruled the roost when it came to racket sports.
Frankie stopped playing for several years, once his initial backing had ceased. Having seen the game’s surge in popularity in the UK, he couldn’t sit on the sidelines for too long.
“I thought that I had to get back into it,” said Frankie. “I didn’t want to miss the boat – I had to get back into playing.
“I’ve stopped playing a couple of times, but I played until I was about 21 or 22 and stopped for six or seven years before picking it back up again.”
Growing Padel in Britain
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) became the recognised governing body for padel in 2020, which has helped to spearhead the growth of the sport on British shores. As part of the body’s initiative to grow padel, the number of courts in the UK has risen from just 50 in 2020 to a projected figure of over 1,000 by the end of 2026.
Now aged 31, Frankie is making up for lost time. As well as competing on the world tour, he introduces new players, young and old, through coaching and participating in exhibitions alongside household names.
“The LTA becoming the governing body gave padel credibility in this country,” Frankie explained.
“Additionally, the trend of celebrities, such as F1 drivers and footballers, playing and posting about it constantly gives padel momentum in this country as well.”
World Legends Padel Tour
Frankie is a regular participant in pro-am events, playing alongside a plethora of ex-footballers, such as the recent World Legends Padel Tour, where he has shared the court with the likes of John Terry, Andriy Shevchenko, Gianfranco Zola and Fernando Llorente.
With a wealth of instantly recognisable names not only taking up the sport, but posting about it across their social media channels, Frankie believes this will only serve to push padel to the next level.
“Lots of influential celebrities and sports stars are playing…Simon Jordan, on talkSPORT, talks about playing padel, and so does Jason Manford, the comedian.”
“I feel like padel is very much in its trendy zone,” Frankie added. “It’s very trendy to play padel.
“I have been very lucky to be in the GB team and have celebrities and influencers approach me.
“I’ve played with John Terry, [Williams Racing commercial director] James Bower, and Andriy Shevchenko…I still need to get David Beckham, though!”
Frankie is the director of padel at the Heron Padel Club in Brentwood, Essex, and is available to book for individual and group coaching sessions.
By Aaron Gratton
