New Season. Same Game.

Padel requires four people to make a game. But what happens when three of them are strangers? We explore how a shared game can build confidence, spark unexpected connections and bring people together in ways they never expected.

There was a time when a break away needed little more than a good hotel, a decent beach and a vague plan for lunch.

Five games. Six clubs. 48 hours in Bangkok. Matt Rock and his wife, Sarah follow the BTS from court to court, meeting players from around the world and finding the neighbourhoods, cafés and corners of the city that would never have made the itinerary without the game.

As the temperature drops, we’re looking at the seasonal extras that bring a little more cosiness to the colder months Think the capacious Mulberry Delilah bag and Perfect Moment’s soft balaclava, alongside Medik8’s Ultimate Recovery face cream and Skims’ jersey pyjamas for downtime restoration. From cold-weather court kit to the comforts waiting at home, these are the pieces earning their place this season.

Padel is becoming more than a game. We meet Florent Prelo of Palaestra in Koh Samui to talk about the culture, community and chemistry forming around the court.

A brief encounter abroad evokes feelings of freedom, lust and excitement. Padel is becoming another way to find it.

The perfect padel retreat is surprisingly specific. So what happens when nobody’s selling yours? Here we unpack an alternative approach: five trips, assembled one booking at a time.

Sarah Rock’s game starts long before she steps onto the court. From her signature scent to the racket she swears by, here’s what she takes with her to play.