Set against the backdrop of Glyfáda, a chic enclave on the Athenian Riviera, the emergence of pàdel is palpable. In a locale where sun-seekers can easily pop in for a visit to the Acropolis before dropping bags at the newest ACE hotel, and hang by the pool for a DJ set, all before hitting the beach, the courts beckon. This past June, I visited the TenTwenty Club—named after the dimensions of a pàdel court—where a byzantine maze of glassed-in courts sit next to gorgeous clay tennis courts and a yoga pavilion. All this surrounds a brutalist clubhouse, dotted with wildflowers and anchored by La Linda, a South American bakery known as much for smoothies and the lamination of its croissants as for wellness. Here, Isabella Aquilina and her husband Marc Missirian are translating their passion for hospitality and sports into a vibrant pàdel club that resonates with discerning visitors seeking both leisure and connection.
Missirian’s insight into the sport, honed during his time running the Qatari basketball association, reveals an appreciation for pàdel's unique accessibility and appeal. “In the Gulf, I encountered pàdel everywhere—people were importing coaches from Spain and forming private clubs. It was a clear signal of a sport on the rise,” he recalls. “When we saw the potential for such a community in Athens, we knew it was the right move.”