Padel, a racket-based sport similar to tennis and squash, is set to take off in Canada with the launch of the North American Pro Paddle League. Padel is already popular in Europe and South America, and the league aims to expand the sport in North America. The league held its inaugural draft earlier this year, with seven franchises selecting from 500 players worldwide. The final roster of each team will include four players, two men and two women, and four alternates. The Toronto Polar Bears are the league’s first and only Canadian team, and former Toronto FC midfielder Sebastian Giovinco is one of its owners.
The padel rackets have foam on the interior and carbon composite on the exterior, and padel courts are surrounded by glass walls. The pro padel league season starts in May and ends in June, with the winning team receiving the PPL cup.