Pickleball is the new boardroom. Padel, the latest productivity hack. When therapy feels too costly and meditation too still, the most strategic move of the week might just be a backhand volley. Luxury destinations are adding padel courts into their wellness menus—and science backs the trend. Racket sports boost oxytocin, strengthen our social biome, and extend lifespan. On court, connection, competition, and camaraderie converge, reminding us that play isn’t an escape from life—it’s our way back to it.
Judy Chapman explores how we’re quietly healing through the game.
Everywhere I look—online and in parks—people are swapping deadlines for dinks and spreadsheets for serves. Entrepreneurs I know are skipping meetings because they “have to be at padel by four.” In the U.S., over 36 million people played at least once in 2022. Padel? Over 30 million players worldwide—and growing.
I, too, now plan meetings around my tennis and padel games. During COVID, I took up tennis seriously – it was one of the few team activities allowed. This year in Bali, I added padel (courts sprouting as fast as rice after the rain). Padel has become our new social ritual: cocktails out, padel, sauna, and cold plunge in. Some may say we’re avoiding our problems one volley at a time. I say, “Less inner peace, more padel battles, please.”
And maybe that’s the healthiest thing we’ve done in a while.
Last year, the Aman group welcomed tennis legend Novak Djokovic as its Global Wellness Advisor, launching a Detoxification Programme blending Aman’s three decades of wellness expertise with Djokovic’s dedication to longevity. Luxury destinations such as Montauk Yacht Club, Aman resorts, and Four Seasons now feature courts on their wellness menus —with more on the way.
It makes sense. We carry more unresolved trauma than we realize. Therapy is confronting; yoga too still. Then came the court—pickleball, tennis, padel—with its quick wins and a space to release emotion. We don’t talk it out—we rally. We don’t meditate—we move.
And now, science is proving what we’ve felt all along.
A 25-year study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found racket sports deliver the greatest longevity benefit—a 47% lower risk of death from any cause. Why? They combine the holy trinity of wellness: aerobic activity, coordination, and social connection. You move, think, and connect. Social bonds boost oxytocin, easing stress and supporting heart and immune health. Danish research links social play with happiness and stronger mental health. A healthy “social biome” of friends, rivals, and teammates sustains physical, emotional, and mental vitality.
Even more than that, racket sports bring us into presence. You can’t play padel while checking your phone—you must focus, react, and stay alert. In a culture designed to fragment attention, these games gift us something rare: being fully here. The rhythm of the rally, the thwack of the ball, the laughter between points—micro-hits of mindfulness in sneakers and sweatbands.
Maybe we’re not avoiding our problems—maybe we’re addressing them differently. Maybe padel is the meeting, and real breakthroughs happen mid-rally, through shared joy. Wellness becomes social, accessible, even addictive: less Google Meet, more drop shot
So if you catch yourself feeling guilty about court time, consider this your permission slip—it’s not wasted time; it’s medicine. Because maybe we don’t hide our pain in pickleball and padel. If we find connection, laughter, and health there, that’s not hiding—it’s healing.
And if anyone asks? Just say: “I’m not skipping meetings—I’m playing my way back to presence.”
Where to Rally Around the World
“Sports-tripping” — the art of planning travel around athletic experiences — is shaping up to be travel’s next big wave. With the global sports tourism market projected to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030, it’s fast becoming one of the world’s most dynamic sectors. For hotels and destinations, it’s the ultimate blend of style, sociability, and sport — equally at home in luxury escapes or urban clubs.
California
Rancho Valencia – Yoga Pavilion
California’s premier luxury wellness resort, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, has elevated its racquet offerings with three new state-of-the-art padel courts, created in partnership with Wilson and designed by Spain’s Grupo Padel Galis World. A beloved Southern California sanctuary, Rancho Valencia blends world-class sport with holistic wellness—offering everything from herbal-infused spa rituals and medical-grade treatments to tennis, pickleball, and dynamic fitness classes. The arrival of padel introduces the world’s fastest-growing sport to guests and members through a curated program of expert-led clinics, drop-in sessions, Americano tournaments, and more. This latest addition cements Rancho Valencia’s reputation as a destination where wellbeing, performance, and play come seamlessly together in one sun-drenched, Californian haven.
www.ranchovalencia.com
Greece
Tennis legend, Maria Sharapova, leads tennis wellness at Amanzoe in Greece
At Amanzoe in Greece, tennis icon Maria Sharapova invites guests to discover her personal approach to focus and endurance through the “Building Mental Resilience” program. This half-day experience blends physical training with mindfulness to strengthen both body and mind. Curated by Maria herself, the journey includes guided movement, recovery rituals, and mindset techniques inspired by her own career at the top of world sport. Guests are encouraged to begin their day like a champion — balancing discipline with presence — in the serene surroundings of Amanzoe. Developed in collaboration with Sharapova as Aman’s Global Wellness Ambassador, this athlete-inspired program offers a rare insight into the rituals that shaped one of the game’s most resilient competitors.
www.aman.com/resorts/amanzoe/wellness/building-mental-resilience-maria-sharapova
Nihi, Sumba Island, Indonesia
NIHI – Paddle Court / Photo by Joe Kelly
One of the world’s last true wild destinations, NIHI Sumba blends adventure, culture, and luxury with a deep sense of place. Now introducing padel and pickleball, guests can play, move, and connect amid untamed beauty. Glide through turquoise waters, explore ancient hilltop villages, and follow hidden paths to secluded waterfalls. Every experience—from surfing to sport—is crafted to immerse you in the island’s living culture and breathtaking landscapes. Just a 50-minute flight from Bali, NIHI has redefined luxury travel with authenticity and heart. Honoured with the Michelin Three-Key distinction, it’s a place where freedom, community, and transformation meet—and where the ultimate luxury is a profound sense of peace.
www.nihi.com
Maldives
Luxury eco-resort pioneer Soneva has introduced padel tennis to its world-class experiences in the Maldives, launching new courts at Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll and Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll. Set against lush jungle and turquoise lagoons, the courts invite guests of all ages to play, learn, and connect through one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. To celebrate the launch, our Soneva’s Stars programme welcomed renowned athletes, including Swedish legend Jonas Björkman, former World No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles champion, who will offer private tennis and padel sessions. Whether it’s a friendly match or a lesson with a pro, Soneva’s new courts promise another unforgettable island experience.
www.soneva.com
JOALI BEING
Surrounded by coconut palms and lush greenery, the padel court at JOALI BEING offers an invigorating way to move, connect, and recharge. Blending cardio and camaraderie, this dynamic sport strengthens Energy — one of the Four Pillars of JOALI BEING. Unlike classic tennis, padel rewards strategy over strength, creating a playful balance that’s ideal for couples, families, and friends seeking friendly competition. Each rally invites you to serve, swing, and savour the island spirit in motion. Whether you’re a first-time player or looking to refine your technique, our professional Padel Coach will guide you through every match — helping you discover a new rhythm of fitness, flow, and the Joy of Well-Living.
www.joali.com
New York
Montauk Yacht Club
Privé Padel, located at the historic Montauk Yacht Club, is redefining how we experience the world’s fastest-growing sport. Co-founded by Nicholas Solarewicz, a former professional tennis player and Wall Street banker, and Christopher Moore, a wellness entrepreneur and longtime Hamptons resident, Privé embodies movement, connection, and hospitality. Together, they have built a club that serves a global audience while embracing the vibrant Hamptons culture. It features two state-of-the-art Spanish courts, Privé blends sport, wellness, and social connection into a luxury lifestyle experience. Privé offers flexible membership tiers designed to meet players wherever they are in their padel journey. The elegant club attracts a global audience while staying true to Montauk’s vibrant coastal spirit.
www.prive-padel.com
Mexico
Four Seasons Resort, Mexico – Punta Mita padel courts
The Racquet Centre at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita offers 17 courts—seven for tennis, two for padel, and eight for pickleball—along with a pro shop, locker rooms, and programs including lessons, clinics, mixers, and player matching. Guests can join beginner padel clinics, weekday pickleball mixers, adult tennis drills, “Live Ball” sessions, and junior classes, with balls provided for every booking. Set on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the Riviera Nayarit, just a short drive from Puerto Vallarta, the resort blends barefoot luxury with tropical beauty. Private terraces and pools invite rest and reconnection, while lush gardens, golden sands, and vivid sunsets capture the essence of Mexico—where every rally, wave, and moment feels unforgettable.
www.fourseasons.com/puntamita
Turks & Caicos
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has aligned with Aman Resorts as Global Wellness Advisor to launch Longevity Pathways — a new wellness program rooted in his personal philosophy of balance, movement, and mindful living. The program will feature detoxification and mobility retreats across Aman’s global destinations, blending Djokovic’s high-performance training approach with Aman’s signature holistic touch. Think functional movement, nutrition, and recovery sessions complemented by yoga, meditation, and sound healing. This November, Djokovic will also personally lead an exclusive three-day retreat at Amanyara, Turks and Caicos, offering guests a rare opportunity to train, reset, and rejuvenate under his guidance.
Other resorts integrating Padel and Pickleball into their offerings include The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne Miami, and The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa in Texas to name a few. ☐
Judy Chapman is an International Spa Designer and consults for hotel, spa and wellness brands around the world. Judy also develops white label skincare products for spas and individuals. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Spa Asia magazine and author of several books on wellness and spas. Judy is currently based in Bali, Indonesia.
www.judychapman.com.au
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