How to Find Padel Partners and Start an Open Match in Your City

Padel is a four-player sport, and that's exactly what trips up most new players — where do you find three other people free at the same time? The good news: you don't need a fixed crew. An open match is a court that's already booked but still short a player or two — opened either by another player or by the club itself. That's the whole idea behind the PadelDropIn app — always being able to find people to play with, whether or not you have a fixed crew.

Finding players at your level

Every open match in the app shows the players' skill range up front, so you can tell right away if it's a fit. If you're just starting out and don't know your level yet, a short questionnaire during sign-up gives you a starting estimate — nothing strict, just a rough guide until the system adjusts your level based on actual results as you play.

Once you find a match that works, you request to join, and the organizer — the player who opened it, or a club admin — decides whether to accept you. From there you play, meet new partners, and next time you can invite them directly.

How court booking works

You book the court directly with the club, the way that club normally handles it — by phone, on the club's website or in person. Every club's contact details and location are in the app. Once the club confirms your slot, you post it in the app as an open match and find the players you're missing.

In short: the club gives you the court, and the app helps you find a crew and put the match together.

Payment stays simple

You still pay for the court directly at the club, same as always — PadelDropIn doesn't handle court payments. The point is making it easier to find a crew and a time slot, not changing how you pay.

Where the app is live right now

PadelDropIn started in Belgrade, and the club network is gradually expanding to other cities in the region. You can always see the exact list of available clubs and cities directly in the app, since it's updated regularly as the network grows.

How to get started

1. Download the PadelDropIn app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Browse open matches in your city or favorite club.
3. Request to join a match that fits your level and schedule.
4. If nothing fits, book a slot directly with a club, open your own match and wait for other players to join.

If this is your first match, read up on the basic rules of padel before you step on court — the serve and playing off the walls are the only things you really need to know in advance.

The more you play, the better the system gets at matching your level and the clubs you like, so future matches get suggested more accurately. Check the PadelDropIn blog for more on finding partners, skill levels, and clubs.

An open match in the app isn't the only way to meet players — for a wider view, including clubs, Serbian Padel Federation tournaments, and groups run by clubs themselves, see where to find padel players in Serbia.