Padel, an immensely popular racquet sport you've probably never heard of and don't know how to pronounce, is establishing a foothold in metro Atlanta.

Why it matters: Invented in Mexico in 1969, "paddle" or "pah-dell" combines tennis, squash and racquetball, and has become popular in the U.S., particularly in Florida, Texas and along the east coast.

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

• The PATL courts are the only public options for the padel curious and serious in Georgia, Ye and Herring told Axios. The closest padel courts are more than 200 miles away, they say.

How it works: Padel is played with a slightly deflated tennis-like ball and perforated paddles on a shrunken tennis court enclosed within glass walls, Axios' Martin Vassolo writes.

• It's played by over 25 million people around the world and is especially popular in Spain and Argentina. But there's only about 300 padel courts in the U.S., the Washington Post reported in January.
• Padel is more physically demanding than its American cousin, pickleball, which is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.

Yes, but: The different ball is less noisy than the ones used to play pickleball.

Zoom in: Players can book court space through ITA's reservation system for $60 an hour (padel games are doubles play, so roughly $15 per person) and rent paddles ($5) and buy containers of balls ($9).

• Clinics start at $30 and lessons are $120. ITA members receive a 25% discount on court reservations and clinics.

The intrigue: Roughly 70% to 80% of people who attend a clinic at the ITA courts return to play, Ye and Herring told Axios. On some days, Ye said, he teaches six hours of lessons.

What's next: The duo are scouting locations in west Atlanta and want to surround the metro with courts.

Read more. Watch some of the best padel points here.

Coming off of a redemptive Paris Olympics, seven-time gold medalist Simone Biles and members of the U.S. gymnastics team will tumble through Georgia on a U.S. tour this fall.

Driving the news: The Gold Over America Tour (GOAT) will be making 30 stops featuring gold medalist Jordan Chiles, Stephen Nedoroscik (pommel horse guy), Jade Carey, Fred Richard and more.

• The itinerary includes an Oct. 13 show at Gas South Arena in Duluth.

Between the lines: Fans can expect a concert-like experience with choreographed routines during the 110-minute show.

What they're saying: "From the world's stage to the GOAT stage, this incredible journey continues, and I can't wait for fans to see what we have in store this year," Biles said in a press release. "I love creating unforgettable memories for our audiences every night on tour."

What's next: The tour begins Sept. 16. Tickets are on sale now.

Tomorrow marks one year since Johnny Hollman Sr. died after being tased by a former Atlanta cop, and his family is still not only campaigning for justice, but working to make sure his death does not fade from the city's collective memory.

Why it matters: Hollman's death following a traffic stop sparked protests, resulted in the firing of officer Kiran Kimbrough and led to the Atlanta Police Department changing its policy on how it issues citations.

What they're saying: Family members are planning to privately honor the life and legacy of their patriarch, daughter Arnitra Hollman told Axios.

Catch up quick: Hollman, who was chairman of the deacon ministry at Lively Stones of God Ministries, was driving home from Bible study when he was involved in a traffic collision on Lowery Boulevard at Cunningham Place in southwest Atlanta.

• Kimbrough responded to the crash and later determined Hollman, 62, was at fault.
• After disagreeing with the officer's decision, Hollman agreed to sign the ticket and as he reached for it, Kimbrough grabbed his arm and wrestled him to the ground.

During the struggle, Kimbrough told Hollman to put his hands behind his back, but Hollman repeatedly said, "I can't breathe."

• Kimbrough tased Hollman, who became unresponsive, then called for backup.
• EMS crews tried to revive him at the scene, but Hollman was pronounced dead at the hospital.
• An autopsy determined Hollman died from an abnormal heart rhythm caused by the use of the taser.

What we're watching: Arnitra Hollman told Axios that family members about a month ago met with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who told them the case was a "top priority."

• "I just trust God, I trust the process and I know we're going to see justice," she said. "And I know justice will be served."

The full story

🚒 An audit has determined that one-third of vehicles belonging to Atlanta Fire Rescue Department have exceeded their lifespan, and the city lacks a strategy to replace them. (AJC)

🗣️ Delta Air Lines and CrowdStrike are fighting a war of words over last month's technology outage that led to thousands of flights being canceled and a $500 million loss in revenue. (Axios)

🏋️ Hampton Morris, a 20-year-old from Marietta, brought home the first Olympic medal for the U.S. men's weightlifting team in 40 years when he won bronze in his competition. (11 Alive)

👀 People rummaged through the belongings of Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge after the business was evicted from its Peachtree Road location. (Fox 5 Atlanta)