Judy Murray urges Scots to embrace fast-growing pickleball sport

JUDY Murray is urging Scots to embrace one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, calling it a “perfect fit” for the country’s indoor spaces and unpredictable weather.

The Scottish tennis coach was speaking at this weekend’s Skechers Pickleball Scottish Open, which saw a record-setting 380 competitors compete in over 900 matches at the National Badminton Centre at Glasgow Club Scotstoun.

Pickleball – a mix of tennis, badminton and table tennis using a bigger ball, paddles and a small court – has seen participation surge by more than 10,000% across the country – from just 50 players in 2018 to over 5200 this year.

Since seeing the courts full of picklers and trying it for herself, Murray become one of the sport’s biggest advocates, helping to raise its profile in Scotland and beyond. A pickleball court has been installed at Cromlix, the hotel owned by Kim and Andy Murray.

She said: “It’s just fun and engaging, and it’s incredibly inclusive. And for Scotland, it’s a perfect fit for us. We have terrible weather, we have badminton courts everywhere — in every community centre and sports centre. Even church halls have badminton courts.

“So, in terms of setting up quickly, wherever you are, I think it’s a perfect fit for getting more people more active, more often in Scotland.

“It’s a perfect transfer out of tennis into something that will keep me in a similar game, but at the other end of the scale, I could also see how it’s a great introduction to any kind of racket sport because it’s so doable.”

Anne Smillie, former chief executive of Badminton Scotland, British sport’s longest serving CEO and current board member of Pickleball Scotland recently predicted pickleball would overtake tennis as Scotland’s most popular racket sport by 2030.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport I’ve ever seen,” she said. “I’m absolutely convinced that, with the right funding and institutional backing from Sportscotland, pickleball will become Scotland’s leading racket sport by the end of this decade.”

The tournament attracted players from 14 countries, including European champion Louis Laville – who won triple crown at the Open, winning men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles – and former Team Scotland Commonwealth Games table tennis stars Lucy Elliot and Corinna Whitaker-Stone.

Mhairi Adam, chair of Pickleball Scotland, commented: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with how the Skechers Pickleball Scottish Open came together — it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved.

“The level of competition was incredible, and we had a phenomenal team of volunteers and support from fans. This year’s tournament was particularly special, featuring our first youth competition and the third wheelchair event, both of which added to the excitement of the final day.”

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played on a smaller court with what looks like a large ping pong bat and a perforated plastic ball, it’s easy to learn and suitable for all ages and skill levels.

With participation in the U.S. estimated to be over 13 million, pickleball has been named the fastest-growing sport in the country for four consecutive years. Towns, schools, and sports clubs are rapidly building courts to keep up with the demand, while celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, the Kardashians, and George Clooney are counted among its fans.

It is estimated there are currently 30,000 pickleball players in England, and there was a 40% increase in players from June 2023 to June 2024.