Atlanta players compete for national padel glory

You can find fame and glory playing padel.

Why it matters: The National Padel League is giving amateur players the opportunity to play in the country's first league endorsed by the U.S. Padel Association.

Zoom in: Amateur players in the USA National Team League will represent 40 cities, including Atlanta, on a national stage.

How it works: Amateur players of all levels will play on city-based teams and compete for the chance to play at Miami's National Finals in February.

• The league is open to active USPA members 16 and older.

Catch up quick: Invented in Mexico in 1969, "paddle" or "pah-dell" combines tennis, squash and racquetball and is growing in popularity in the U.S., particularly in Florida, Texas and along the east coast.

• It's played on a smaller, tennis-style court surrounded by glass walls.

The big picture: Padel is more physically demanding than its American cousin, pickleball, which has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.

• And unlike pickleball, which can be easily played on re-lined tennis courts, padel courts are more expensive to install. Plus, it isn't free to play.

The latest: In December 2023, Kevin Ye and Andrew Herring's company PATL partnered with ITA Atlanta to open courts and offer clinics and lessons at the Chamblee racquet sports complex.

What's next: Registration is open until Oct. 15, and local competitions will begin Oct. 20.