As padel fever continues to sweep across social media, interest in this racket sport is reaching new heights. With its fast-paced gameplay and resemblance to lawn tennis, padel has quickly become a favorite among urban dwellers especially in Jakarta. However, the high cost of court rentals in the capital has made it difficult for many to join in. Now, the Jakarta government is stepping in with a solution.
Governor Pramono Anung recently expressed surprise at how expensive it is to rent a single padel court in the city. “I’ve already told the Mayor and the Parks Department Head that those who want to play padel can do so for free, but they’ll need to bring their own equipment so that everyone has the chance to participate,” he said during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
To address the issue of affordability, the Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing free public padel and tennis courts at Taman Bendera Pusaka in South Jakarta. This move aims to make the sport more accessible to residents across the city.
As a starting point, one court will be provided at Taman Bendera Pusaka, which itself is a merged area of three existing parks: Taman Langsat, Taman Ayodya, and Taman Leuser. Governor Pramono noted that if public enthusiasm is high, more courts could be added in the future.
“We want to give people the opportunity to exercise, so we’re building padel courts, especially since they’re so expensive everywhere these days,” he explained.
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Padel may be new to many Indonesians, but the sport has long been popular in Hispanic countries. It was pioneered by Enrique Corcuera, a businessman from Mexico, who converted a squash court in his home into a playing field about one-third the size of a standard tennis court. By incorporating the use of walls as part of gameplay, Corcuera introduced a new variation he called “Padel-Tenis.”
As described in A Brief Lesson from A Bare Tree by Eileen (2023:142), padel uses a solid racket without strings and is played on a smaller court compared to tennis. This unique combination of features makes it both accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages.
With the government’s support, Jakarta could soon become a hub for this growing sport. The initiative not only promotes healthy lifestyles but also ensures inclusivity by removing financial barriers. For now, residents can look forward to trying the sport for free—just don’t forget to bring your own racket.
