The world of professional padel has just undergone its most significant transformation to date. If you’ve been following the sport, you’ll know that 2024 marks the beginning of a new, unified era. The long-competing World Padel Tour and the ascendant Premier Padel circuit have merged under a single global tour governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP). This monumental shift has resulted in a complete ‘ranking reset’, creating a single, definitive FIP Ranking that will shape the professional landscape for years to come. For fans and players alike, this change brings both excitement and a host of questions. How are points calculated now? What happened to the old WPT points? Who are the winners and losers in this new structure? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the new FIP points system, explaining the mechanics of the ranking reset, the new tournament structure, and what it all means for the future of the world’s fastest-growing sport. Get ready to understand the new pecking order in pro padel.
The end of an era the WPT and Premier Padel merger
For years, the professional padel circuit was characterized by a division between two major tours the established World Padel Tour (WPT) and the player-backed Premier Padel, which launched in 2022 with the support of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and the FIP. This split created a fragmented calendar, conflicting schedules, and confusion for fans trying to follow a single, coherent narrative. Players were often caught in the middle, navigating contractual obligations and choosing which tournaments to prioritize. The tension was palpable, but behind the scenes, a resolution was brewing. The breakthrough came when QSI, the powerhouse behind Premier Padel, acquired the World Padel Tour. This acquisition paved the way for a unified circuit, a long-held dream for many within the sport. The merger, effective from the 2024 season, brought an end to the rivalry and consolidated the professional game under one umbrella named Premier Padel, governed exclusively by the FIP. This unification was not merely a branding exercise; it was a fundamental restructuring designed to elevate the sport’s professionalism, global reach, and commercial appeal. It necessitated the creation of a single ranking system that could fairly integrate the results from two previously separate ecosystems, leading directly to the 2024 ranking reset.
Understanding the new unified FIP ranking
With two tours becoming one, the most pressing task was to create a single ranking list that was fair to all players. The solution is the official FIP Ranking, which, as of 2024, is the sole arbiter of tournament entry and seeding for the Premier Padel tour. So, how was this new ranking calculated at the start of the year? To create a just starting point, the FIP decided to combine points from the 2023 season across both circuits. The formula took into account a player’s best 22 results from a specific selection of tournaments. These included all Premier Padel and WPT tournaments (Master Final, Master, Open 1000, and Open 500) from 2023, as well as events from the FIP Tour. This ‘best of 22’ approach ensured that players who performed consistently well on either tour were rewarded, preventing anyone from being unfairly penalized for having focused on one circuit over the other. The immediate result was a fascinating reshuffle at the top. For instance, Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, who dominated the WPT in 2023, saw their lead challenged by Ale Galán and Juan Lebrón, who had strong performances in Premier Padel events. This initial calculation set the stage for the 2024 season, where from now on, only points earned in the new unified tour will count towards a player’s ranking.
A breakdown of the new FIP points system
The new unified tour introduces a clear and hierarchical points structure, heavily inspired by professional tennis, which makes it easier for fans to understand the importance of each event. The system is designed to reward success at the highest levels of competition. At the top of the pyramid are the four Majors, which award the winners a massive 2000 ranking points. Just below them are the P1 tournaments, which form the backbone of the tour and grant 1000 points to the champions. The next tier consists of P2 events, offering 500 points to the winners. The season culminates in the Tour Finals, where the top pairs of the year compete for 1500 points. This structure is further supported by the FIP Tour circuit, which serves as a pathway for rising players. Events like the FIP Platinum (200 points) and FIP Gold (100 points) allow players to earn valuable points to break into the main Premier Padel draws. A crucial element of this new system is that points have a 52-week lifespan. This means that points earned from a tournament will expire one year later, creating a dynamic ‘rolling’ ranking where players must continuously defend their points to maintain their position. This constant pressure ensures that every single week of the season matters, promising intense competition from start to finish.
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What the ranking reset means for players
The transition to a single FIP Ranking has sent ripples throughout the player community, creating new strategies, challenges, and opportunities. For top-tier players, the unified calendar provides clarity. There is no longer a need to choose between competing tours; the path is clear, and the season’s objectives are well-defined. However, it also intensifies the competition. With a single ranking determining entry and seeding for every significant event, every match carries more weight. Players who had a lopsided 2023, performing well on one tour but not the other, may have found their initial 2024 ranking lower than they expected, forcing them to fight harder in the early stages of the season to climb back up. For mid-ranked and emerging players, the new system presents a more structured pathway to the top. Strong performances on the FIP Tour can now directly translate into opportunities to enter P2 or P1 qualifiers, making the dream of competing against the world’s best more attainable. As one analyst noted,
‘This system professionalizes the pathway. Young talent now knows exactly what they need to do to move from a FIP Star event to a Premier Padel Major’.
The strategic element of managing a global schedule, peaking for the right tournaments, and avoiding burnout will become more critical than ever before. Player fitness and team management will be key differentiators in a long and demanding season.
Navigating the 2024 Premier Padel season
The 2024 Premier Padel calendar is the first tangible outcome of the unified tour, boasting a global schedule with 25 tournaments across 18 countries. This ambitious calendar underscores the sport’s international growth and brings elite padel to new and existing audiences worldwide. The season is structured around its tentpole events. The four Majors serve as the grand slams of padel, held in iconic locations like Doha, Rome, Paris, and Mexico. These events carry the most ranking points and prize money, making them the primary targets for all top players. Surrounding the Majors are approximately 11 P1 events and a series of P2 tournaments spread across Europe, South America, and the Middle East. This global footprint not only grows the fan base but also presents logistical challenges for players who must manage extensive travel throughout the year. Qualification for these events is determined solely by the FIP Ranking. A player’s or pair’s ranking dictates whether they gain direct entry into the main draw, must go through qualifying rounds, or miss out entirely. This creates a fierce, week-in-week-out battle for points. The season will conclude with the Premier Padel Tour Finals, a prestigious event reserved for the top 16 players in the ‘Race to the Finals’, adding a dramatic finale to the year.
The future of professional padel under one roof
The unification of professional padel under the FIP and Premier Padel banner marks the dawn of a promising new era. With a single tour, a unified ranking system, and a coherent global calendar, the sport is better positioned than ever for explosive growth. The primary long-term benefit is enhanced professionalism across the board. A unified structure is far more attractive to major broadcasters, global sponsors, and investors, which should lead to increased prize money, better tournament facilities, and a superior viewing experience for fans. This virtuous cycle will help elevate the profiles of the players, turning them into true global sports stars. Many in the padel community believe this move is a critical step towards an even bigger goal; inclusion in the Olympic Games. Presenting a united, professionally run front is a prerequisite for any sport seeking Olympic recognition. However, challenges remain. Managing a packed international calendar to prevent player burnout will be crucial. Furthermore, ensuring that the FIP Tour continues to be a viable pathway for new talent from around the world is essential for the long-term health and competitiveness of the sport. If these challenges are managed effectively, the ranking reset of 2024 will be remembered as the moment padel truly arrived on the world stage, ready to realize its immense potential.
In conclusion, the 2024 ranking reset is far more than an administrative change. It is the cornerstone of a new foundation for professional padel. By merging the WPT and Premier Padel and establishing the FIP Ranking as the single source of truth, the sport has shed the fragmentation that held it back. We now have a clear tournament hierarchy, from the globe-trotting P2 and P1 events to the prestigious Majors, all culminating in a season-ending Tour Finals. For players, this means a more demanding but also more rewarding and understandable career path. For fans, it promises a more engaging and easy-to-follow narrative, with clear stakes every single week. The new points system, with its 52-week rolling cycle, ensures that the battle for the number one spot will be a dynamic and relentless affair. While the transition may have created some short-term winners and losers, the long-term vision is one of unprecedented growth, professionalism, and global recognition. The stage is set, the rules are clear, and a new era of professional padel has officially begun. The only thing left to do is watch as the drama unfolds on the court.
