The first female chair of Wimbledon’s All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club was on hand at Marden Sports Club to officially open their new padel courts.

Debbie Jevans CBE, a former junior champion herself at SW19, even took part in an exhibition match this month.

She was director of the Women’s Game at the International Tennis Federation, director of sports for the London 2012 Olympic Games, chief executive for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and a non-executive director of the Football League before she took on her All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club role in 2023.

Marden Padel Club - part of Marden Sports Club - have two new courts, overlooked by the viewing balcony of the state-of-the-art clubhouse. Courts will initially be open to everyone, including non-members.

Club president Frank Tipples said: “This is a special moment for Marden.

“We have long aimed to offer sport for all and are fortunate with huge numbers of juniors.

“Alongside thriving hockey, cricket and tennis sections, we can now extend our offering with padel.”

Padel tennis is seeing a huge surge in popularity and the sport is described as a fusion of tennis and squash.

Courts can be booked online from £6 per hour for four players and a range of coaching, informal clinics, mix-in sessions and social activities are planned.

See www.mardensportsclub.com/padel for details.