French Tennis Federation expands oversight to padel and pickleball

The French sporting landscape is experiencing a significant shift driven by the rapid rise of racket sports. Padel has seen explosive growth, with the French Tennis Federation (FFT) reporting 272,000 licensees as of November 2025, a 130% increase since 2022. The infrastructure has expanded accordingly, with over 4,000 courts and 1,027 clubs nationwide. France has recently become the global leader in the installation of new padel courts over the last 18 months.

Following this trend, the FFT has officially secured ministerial delegation for pickleball, effective January 2026. This recognition allows the federation to regulate and organize the sport nationally. To streamline operations, a unified ‘Club FFT’ license will be introduced on September 1, 2026, covering padel, pickleball, and beach tennis. The federation has already scheduled major events, including the Open de France de pickleball in Aix-en-Provence in June 2026 and the first official French Championships in July 2026.