When padel first made its way into the LLL area and into the manicured corners of the nearby estates, no one could have predicted the storm it would bring. The courts appeared almost overnight, modern and inviting, offering health, fun and a fresh change from boring gym routines. Many people became obsessed, while others quickly used it for completely different reasons.
I was among the early enthusiasts, a thirty eight year old woman from EEE estate who has always loved fitness. Tennis had been my sport as a teen so when padel arrived, it felt like a rediscovery of something I didn’t even realise I missed. I was not alone in that excitement as several of my friends from the estate and nearby neighbourhoods fell into the same routine of early morning or late afternoon matches, weekend tournaments and the satisfaction of feeling our bodies work again in ways that reminded us of younger versions of ourselves. My husband never got into padel. He stuck to soccer and while he spent his free time on the soccer field, I spent mine on the courts. We didn’t mind the difference at all. At first, everything felt balanced, but the courts didn’t stay innocent playgrounds for long. Something slowly shifted as more people arrived and soon the social side of padel started taking over the sport itself. That was when the real drama began. As padel became more popular, spectators started appearing. However, they weren’t the type who actually watched the game, but who seemed more interested in mingling than watching. Teenagers wandered in pretending to observe matches, but slipped into corners to gossip or plan secret meet ups with the opposite sex. That part didn’t shock anyone too much since after all, young people have always found ways to turn public spaces into their own private hangouts. The real change came from the adults. Married men and women lingered long after their games ended, strolling around in outfits that looked more like they belonged at a beach party than a sporting venue. The courts became less about athletic skill and more about who was watching, who was whispering and who was attempting to be noticed. At first it seemed harmless, but soon it turned into something else, closely resembling moral decay.
Every community has its infamous group who are the people whispered about for one reason or another. In EEE Estate, that group materialised in the form of four wealthy men in their forties. They are known for their success in business, albeit not the kosher way, their expensive cars and their large amount of free time. Their ringleader is YYY who already had a reputation long before padel arrived. The sport simply gave him a new place to play out his old habits. YYY and his friends began to circulate around whichever court hosted the most attractive or newly arrived women, pretending to be fascinated by the games while their eyes scanned every player who happened to
walk past. They especially target recently divorced women, seeing them as easy entry points for attention. This group of friends usually hang around the courts long after their own matches, lounging in shaded corners with smoothies or protein shakes while watching and waiting. Their pattern is common knowledge to us regular padel players. They notice a new woman and start admiring her game a little too enthusiastically, then slowly insert themselves into her playing schedule. A mixed doubles game becomes the perfect excuse to be around her. Week after week, they draw her further into their circle and before long that ‘friendly match’ somehow transforms into whispered rumours of private meet ups, expensive gifts and secret outings. This formula is then repeated on one woman after another.
Among all the women who found themselves drawn into the padel spotlight, none created as much a buzz as MMM. She is in her late twenties, newly divorced and carries herself with a kind of defiant confidence that makes people either admire or judge her. Her clothing choices are very revealing and often push the boundaries of what anyone would consider ‘decent’ sportswear. Naturally, MMM caught YYY’s attention within mere days. The gossip spread like wildfire. People talked about how he watched whichever court she chose, how he changed his schedule when she booked a game and how the two left the courts at similar times before disappearing for casual outings that didn’t seem casual at all. There were whispers about expensive gifts and even hints of an overseas trip. No one can confirm the truth of course but the hints, the glances and the sudden changes in demeanour are enough to fuel endless speculation. MMM isn’t the only single female that was chased after by married men on the courts. The list is long enough to raise eyebrows.
As padel grew, a new group of women appeared. These are the ones who show up in glamorous clothing, glamorous makeup and perfectly styled hair. Their revealing outfits look more suited for a night out than a sports match. They pretend to play spirited games, but never push themselves enough to actually sweat and mess up their expensive eyeliner. In this category one woman stands out above the rest. NNN who is in her late forties, dresses like someone half her age and has no shame in flaunting her newfound sense of ‘freedom’. Everyone knows her husband has been unfaithful for years and while people initially sympathised with her, this sympathy has turned into shock with her recently acquired brazen attitude at the padel courts. NNN seems to thrive on attention. She strolls in and out of the courts with exaggerated grace, smiling at every man who glances her way. What unsettled many is her preference for positioning herself near younger male players. She usually asks for help with her racket grip or for ‘gentle guidance’ on improving her swing, leaning in just a bit too close and prolonging contact for just a bit too long with the young male coaches. Her flirtatious laughter trails behind her as though she is reliving a youth she has long left behind. Many women find her behaviour embarrassing while others find it entertaining. Padel tournaments have became a highlight in our community, drawing crowds from Pretoria, Johannesburg and beyond. But behind the scenes of these organised events there exists another layer entirely. The women organising these tournaments especially the ladies tournaments are known for their sharp organisational skills, but also for their uncanny ability to secure sponsorships from the wealthiest men around. People often joke quietly that these sponsorships do not come from business negotiations, but rather from personal ‘charm’. One tournament organiser has become especially notorious.
She is rumoured to have formed a relationship with one of the married court owners. People whisper that she has become his secret second wife, though no one knows the exact truth. The mystery has only added fuel to the gossip. These tournaments have become competitions not just for winning but for looking the best, attracting the most attention and landing the wealthiest sponsor. For some, padel has become less of a sport and more of a stage.
Among the growing pool of stories and rumours one in particular shook me to my core. It came from my thirty two year old cousin SSS. Her husband who had never shown any interest in sport, suddenly became devoted to padel last year. At first she found it odd but harmless. She encouraged him, happy that he had discovered something active to enjoy. But soon, the enthusiasm escalated unnaturally. He began dressing in new, trendy sportswear, spending more and more evenings out, offering vague explanations about tournaments, practices, or late night matches. She felt something was off so one day, she decided to follow her instincts. Her search led her to a hotel
where she saw her husband meeting a woman from his past, a high school sweetheart who was also married. The two had reconnected on the padel courts, beginning as casual players before falling into something deeper. Two marriages crumbled in the aftermath, leaving children on both sides confused and heartbroken. For the first time, I saw the true destruction that could emerge from what had begun as a harmless sport. The list of scandals only grew from there. Married individuals were spotted leaving courts suspiciously late. Cars lingered in dark corners of parking lots long after the final matches ended. People created elaborate stories for their spouses, claiming to be heading to tournaments that didn’t exist. The padel courts meant to be symbols of healthy recreation now began to feel like stages for hidden agendas and secret encounters. And what shocked me the most was how many people acted as if this behaviour was normal. There are many genuine players who love padel for the actual sport, but increasingly, the courts have filled with individuals who treat padel as a cover story. The longer I played, the more stories I heard, the more patterns I noticed. Eventually, it became impossible to ignore the truth that padel had become a cover, a meeting ground and a playground for people seeking connections outside the boundaries of
respect and fidelity. Not for everyone but for enough people, the ripple effects are damaging families, friendships and trust throughout the community. Parents believed their teens were safely playing or watching matches. Spouses trusted their partners when they said they were heading to the courts for a quick game, but instead headed for a ‘quickie’ in something else.
Many don’t realise how often the truth is different. The courts have changed from innocent places of fun to risky spaces for those unaware of the hidden behaviour happening around them.
Padel is still a beautiful sport, full of potential for connection, fitness and fun. But in communities like ours, it has also become a space where people hide behind rackets and excuses, causing rackets where friendships blur into flirtations, where marriages quietly collapse and where reputations crumble behind polite smiles. The sport is not the problem.
It is the secrecy, the hidden motives and the lack of boundaries. Parents should know that teenagers use the courts as convenient gathering points. Spouses should know that not every late night match is a match. Players should know that admiration from strangers often comes with strings attached. Padel can be empowering, unifying and wholesome if it is approached with honesty. But for those who wander into its darker corners, it has become a maze of manipulation, temptation and consequences that reach far beyond the courts. Let the unsuspecting be
warned: Padel may be a game, but in our community, some treat it as far more and far worse than that, as players in the game of chance, chancing others.
Not a keen player