The world of professional padel has undergone a seismic transformation. For years, the sport’s landscape was defined by a rivalry between two competing circuits, the established World Padel Tour and the ambitious Premier Padel. That era of division is officially over. In a landmark move, Qatar Sports Investments, the backer of Premier Padel, acquired the World Padel Tour, forging a single, unified global circuit under the Premier Padel name. This consolidation marks the dawn of a new world order for one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet. For fans and players alike, this means a streamlined calendar, a unified ranking system, and a more cohesive narrative as the sport pushes towards mainstream global recognition. This guide will navigate you through this exciting new era. We will explore the structure of the new tour, introduce the dominant players in both the men’s and women’s categories, and analyze what this monumental unification means for the future of professional padel.
The end of an era and the dawn of Premier Padel
The journey to a unified tour was a complex and often contentious one. The World Padel Tour, or WPT, had been the benchmark for professional padel for nearly a decade, establishing the sport’s top stars and hosting its most prestigious events. However, in 2022, a new powerful entity emerged. Premier Padel, governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and backed by the financial might of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), launched a parallel tour, offering significantly higher prize money and attracting many of the world’s best players. This created a fractured calendar and a confusing landscape for followers of the sport. The tension between the two tours dominated headlines, with players caught in the middle of contractual disputes and conflicting schedules. The resolution arrived in August 2023 when QSI announced its acquisition of the WPT. This historic agreement brought an end to the division, paving the way for a single global professional padel tour starting in 2024. Under the leadership of QSI’s chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the new circuit, named Premier Padel, operates under the governance of the FIP. This unification is widely seen as a crucial step for the sport’s professionalization and global expansion, creating a more powerful and marketable product. As Luigi Carraro, President of the FIP, stated, this new chapter will see padel ‘reach new heights’.
Understanding the new tournament structure
The new unified Premier Padel tour introduces a clear and hierarchical structure, making it easier for fans to follow the season’s narrative. The calendar is built around four key tiers of tournaments, each offering a different number of ranking points and prize money. At the pinnacle are the four Majors, the most prestigious events of the season. These tournaments, held in iconic locations, offer 2000 ranking points to the winners and represent the grand slams of the padel world. The inaugural season includes Majors in locations like Rome and Paris, underscoring the tour’s global ambition. The next tier consists of P1 tournaments. There will be a significant number of these events spread across the globe, offering 1000 points to the champions. These are the backbone of the tour, where top players consistently battle for supremacy. Following the P1 events are the P2 tournaments, which provide 500 points to the winners and offer opportunities for lower-ranked players to climb the ladder and challenge the elite. This tiered system ensures a dynamic season with compelling storylines at every level. The season culminates in the Tour Finals, an exclusive event for the top 8 male and female pairs of the year, who will battle it out to be crowned the undisputed champions. This structure, similar to that of professional tennis, provides a clear pathway for players and a compelling product for broadcasters and fans worldwide.
Men’s tour the established giants and rising stars
The men’s circuit is currently witnessing a fascinating blend of established legends and explosive new talent. Leading the charge are Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, a pair that dominated much of the previous season with their combination of raw power and creative genius. Coello, with his incredible reach and overhead prowess, and Tapia, known for his magical touch and unpredictable shots, are the team to beat in this new era. However, the chasing pack is formidable. The long-standing partnership of Ale Galán and Juan Lebrón, known as ‘El Lobo’ and ‘El Galántico’, recently came to an end, sending shockwaves through the tour. Galán has now teamed up with Fede Chingotto, a defensive maestro, while Lebrón has partnered with Momo González. These new formations add a fresh layer of intrigue to every tournament. Not to be forgotten is the legendary Fernando ‘Bela’ Belasteguín, who at over 40 years old continues to compete at the highest level, his tactical intelligence and unmatched competitive spirit making him a threat in any match. Another top pair to watch is Paquito Navarro and Sanyo Gutiérrez, two charismatic and highly skilled players who can defeat anyone on their day. The depth of talent is immense, with rising stars and newly formed partnerships all vying to disrupt the hierarchy and claim the top spot in padel’s new world order.
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Women’s tour a landscape of fierce competition
The women’s game is arguably more competitive than ever, with several top pairs capable of winning the biggest titles. For the past couple of seasons, the number one spot has been fiercely contested by two exceptional duos. Paula Josemaría and Ari Sánchez have been a model of consistency, their left-right combination and aggressive, fast-paced style making them a dominant force. Their reign at the top is constantly under threat from Delfi Brea and Bea González. This dynamic pair captured the hearts of many fans with their incredible comeback victories and palpable on-court chemistry. Brea’s defensive skills and González’s explosive power create a perfectly balanced and incredibly dangerous team. Beyond the top two, the competition is deep. Gemma Triay, formerly partnered with Marta Ortega, has formed a new partnership that is looking to shake things up. Marta Ortega herself, a former world number one, remains a tenacious competitor known for her incredible work rate and strategic mind. Young players like Claudia Jensen and Jessica Castelló are also making significant strides, proving they have the talent to challenge the established elite. The unified Premier Padel tour provides these incredible athletes with a bigger stage and greater visibility, promising a season filled with thrilling matches and unpredictable outcomes as they all fight for the coveted number one ranking.
What the unification means for players and fans
The merger of the two tours into a single Premier Padel circuit is a game-changer for everyone involved in the sport. For the players, the benefits are immediate and substantial. The most significant improvement is the creation of a single, unified ranking system, eliminating the confusion of parallel ladders and providing a clear measure of performance. The consolidated calendar also means less travel strain and a more logical season flow, allowing athletes to better plan their training and recovery. Furthermore, the financial backing of QSI translates to a notable increase in prize money across all tournament tiers, providing players with greater financial security and rewarding them more appropriately for their world-class talent. For the fans, the new era promises a more engaging and accessible viewing experience. With one tour, it’s easier to follow the season’s narrative, build allegiances to players, and understand the stakes of each tournament. The unification also allows for investment in higher production quality for broadcasts, bringing the fast-paced action of padel to screens with greater clarity and professionalism. The singular focus on a global tour helps to create bigger stars and more compelling rivalries, which is essential for attracting a broader, more mainstream audience to this rapidly growing sport.
The global future of the unified padel tour
With the internal power struggles resolved, the unified Premier Padel tour is now poised for unprecedented global expansion. The 2024 calendar already reflects this ambition, featuring 25 tournaments across 18 countries, including new and emerging markets in the Middle East, South America, and Europe. This strategic expansion is key to growing the sport’s international footprint and developing new fanbases worldwide. A crucial long-term goal for padel is inclusion in the Olympic Games, and a single, professionally run global tour governed by the International Padel Federation is a prerequisite for any serious Olympic bid. The unified structure presents a cohesive and compelling case to the International Olympic Committee, demonstrating a sport that is organized, global, and commercially viable. Beyond the professional circuit, the FIP and Premier Padel are focused on nurturing the sport at the grassroots level. The increased visibility and revenue from the unified tour can be channeled back into development programs, helping to build infrastructure and support emerging talent in new territories. This holistic approach ensures the long-term health and growth of padel, transforming it from a regional European fascination into a truly global sporting phenomenon. The new world order is not just about the elite players; it’s about building a sustainable future for the entire padel ecosystem.
The dawn of the unified Premier Padel tour is more than just a merger of two organizations; it is a pivotal moment that will define the future of professional padel. The end of the division has created a streamlined, powerful, and ambitious global circuit, providing clarity and excitement for players and fans alike. With a clear tournament hierarchy featuring Majors, P1, and P2 events, the season’s narrative is more compelling than ever. The courts are graced by incredible athletes, from the dominant forces of Coello and Tapia in the men’s game to the fierce rivalries between Josemaría/Sánchez and Brea/González in the women’s draw. The benefits of this new world order are clear a unified ranking, increased prize money, and a simplified schedule for players, coupled with a more accessible and high-quality product for a growing global audience. Looking ahead, the tour’s expansion into new markets and its strengthened bid for Olympic inclusion signal a future filled with limitless potential. This is a golden age for padel, a moment when the sport steps out of the shadows and firmly places itself on the world’s premier sporting stage. The new world order has arrived, and the game will never be the same.
