Premier Padel Circuit
Premier Padel is the global professional padel tour organised by FIP and Qatar Sports Investments. It represents the highest level of competitive padel — the equivalent of the ATP Tour in tennis.
Description
Premier Padel is the official global padel tour, launched in 2022 with the backing of FIP (International Padel Federation), Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), and the Professional Padel Association (PPA). The tour brings together the world’s best players and stages events on every continent.
Premier Padel was created in response to the need for a unified international professional padel structure, analogous to ATP/WTA in tennis.
Tour Structure
Tournament Categories
Premier Padel tournaments are divided into several tiers by significance:
| Category | Ranking Points | Prize Money | Events per Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | Maximum (2000) | Highest | 4 |
| P1 | 1000 | High | 6–8 |
| P2 | 500 | Medium | 8–10 |
| Challenger | 250 | Entry-level | 12+ |
Major Tournaments
Majors are the flagship events of the season. Similar to tennis Grand Slams, they take place in key cities:
- Italy Major (Rome)
- France Major (Bordeaux/Paris)
- Argentina Major (Buenos Aires)
- Qatar Major (Doha)
Major tournaments attract all top-ranked pairs and carry the largest prize funds.
Ranking System
Premier Padel uses the FIP ranking system, similar to tennis rankings:
- Points are awarded based on tournament results
- Rankings are calculated from best results over a 52-week rolling period
- Higher-category tournaments award more points
- Rankings determine seedings and admission to Majors
Top Players
As of 2025, among the leaders of the men’s ranking:
- Arturo Coello (Spain) — one of the youngest ranking leaders
- Agustín Tapia (Argentina) — known for a brilliant, creative playing style
- Alejandro Galán (Spain)
- Federico Chingotto (Argentina)
[OUTDATED] Rankings are updated weekly. For the current ranking, visit premierpadel.com.
Tournament Format
Men’s and Women’s Draws
- Main draw at Majors: 32 pairs
- Qualifying: 16–32 pairs
- All matches are doubles (2×2)
- Format: best of 3 sets, with golden point at deuce
Television Broadcasts
Premier Padel is broadcast on global sports platforms:
- Eurosport / Max (Europe)
- ESPN (Latin America)
- Sky Sports (United Kingdom)
- DAZN (selected markets)
- YouTube channel Premier Padel (free streams)
History of Professional Padel
| Period | Tour | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–2022 | World Padel Tour (WPT) | The first professional tour, based in Spain |
| 2022– | Premier Padel | Global FIP tour, succeeded WPT |
Before 2022, professional padel was represented by the World Padel Tour (WPT), which was held predominantly in Spain. In 2022, FIP created Premier Padel as a global alternative, eventually leading to the unification of both tours into a single structure.
Prize Money
Prize funds on Premier Padel have grown significantly compared to the WPT era:
| Category | Approximate Prize Fund |
|---|---|
| Major | €500,000+ |
| P1 | €250,000–400,000 |
| P2 | €150,000–250,000 |
| Challenger | €50,000–100,000 |
[UNVERIFIED] Prize funds continue to grow — FIP aims to bring them closer to the level of lower-tier tennis tournaments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Premier Padel differ from the World Padel Tour? WPT was a private tour focused on Spain. Premier Padel is a global tour under FIP management, with tournaments on every continent, larger prize money, and a broader television audience.
How do you qualify for a Premier Padel tournament? Through the FIP ranking system. Top-ranked pairs enter the main draw directly; others go through qualifying. For Challenger events, a national federation ranking may suffice.
Where can I watch matches? Many matches are streamed free on the Premier Padel YouTube channel. They are also available on Eurosport, ESPN, and other platforms.
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