World Padel Tour: History and Legacy
The World Padel Tour (WPT) was the professional padel circuit that served as the sport’s premier competitive platform for a decade (2013–2023). WPT laid the foundation for the professionalisation of padel and its global growth.
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What Was the World Padel Tour
World Padel Tour (WPT) was a professional padel tour founded in 2013 in Madrid, backed by the Spanish brewing group Damm (through its subsidiary Setpoint Events) and the Association of Professional Padel Players (AJPP). WPT succeeded the Padel Pro Tour (PPT) and quickly became the world’s leading professional padel circuit.
For ten years, WPT set the standards for professional padel: tournament formats, ranking systems, television broadcasting, and prize funds.
History and Development
Predecessor: Padel Pro Tour (2005–2012)
Before WPT, there was the Padel Pro Tour (PPT) — the first professional tour, established in 2005 through an agreement between tournament organisers, AJPP, and the Spanish Women’s Padel Association (AFEP). Over eight years, PPT ran tournaments in 20 men’s and 8 women’s categories, primarily in Spain, before beginning international expansion in 2010.
The Rise of WPT (2013–2016)
In 2013, WPT replaced PPT following protracted legal disputes between the two circuits. The new tour attracted all top players and secured major sponsors. In 2014, the legendary pairing of Fernando Belasteguin and Juan Martin Diaz split, marking a generational shift in professional padel.
International Growth (2017–2021)
In 2017, WPT updated its competition format and expanded television coverage — broadcasts on Gol TV significantly increased viewership. By the early 2020s, the tour spanned 14 countries, had 17 global sponsors, and was broadcast in over 150 countries.
The Final Season (2023)
The last WPT season set records for international reach. The Boss Barcelona Master Final in 2023 served as the historic culmination of the tour’s ten-year journey.
Tournament Categories
WPT used a multi-tier tournament system, each tier offering different ranking points and prize money:
| Category | Description | Approximate Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Master | Top tier, elite pairs | ~€120,000 per category |
| Open | Broad access, two sub-levels (Open 500, Open 1000) | €50,000–100,000 |
| Challenger | Entry level for young and rising players | ~€15,000–30,000 |
WPT prize funds were modest compared to tennis. A Master winner could earn around €10,500, while a round-of-16 participant at a Challenger received just €131. Nevertheless, WPT was the first platform where professional padel players could earn a living from their sport.
The Transition to Premier Padel
The Conflict (2022)
In 2022, FIP (International Padel Federation) together with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) launched Premier Padel — a rival global tour. This sparked an open conflict: leading players and FIP filed a competition complaint with the European Commission, accusing Setpoint Events (operator of WPT) of violating EU antitrust law.
Throughout 2022–2023, professional padel was split between two tours, creating confusion for players and fans alike.
Unification (2023–2024)
On 24 August 2023, a historic agreement was announced: QSI acquired the World Padel Tour from the Damm group. Starting from the 2024 season, both tours were unified into a single structure — Premier Padel — under FIP governance. The World Padel Tour brand ceased to exist.
The Legacy of WPT
Over its ten years, the World Padel Tour accomplished a great deal:
- Professionalisation — transformed padel from an amateur pastime into a professional sport with a regular tour, rankings, and prize money
- Television reach — broadcasts in 150+ countries introduced millions of viewers to padel
- Stars of the sport — WPT gave the world players like Agustin Tapia, Ale Galan, Paquito Navarro, Gemma Triay
- International expansion — tournaments in 14 countries took padel beyond Spain and Argentina
- Infrastructure — the ranking system, entry rules, and tournament organisation standards became the foundation for Premier Padel
Key Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Founding of Padel Pro Tour (PPT) — the first professional circuit |
| 2013 | Launch of World Padel Tour, replacing PPT |
| 2014 | Belasteguin–Diaz split, marking a generational shift |
| 2017 | Format overhaul, expanded TV broadcasting |
| 2020 | WPT continues during the pandemic with restrictions |
| 2022 | Launch of Premier Padel — a rival FIP/QSI tour |
| 2023 | QSI acquires WPT, unification announced |
| 2024 | Unified Premier Padel tour, WPT brand retired |
How to Follow Padel Today
After the unification of WPT and Premier Padel, all professional padel is consolidated under Premier Padel. Here is how to stay up to date:
- Premier Padel App — the official app with schedules, results, and rankings
- YouTube — the Premier Padel channel streams many matches for free
- Television — Eurosport / Max (Europe), ESPN (Latin America), Sky Sports (United Kingdom)
- Social media — official Premier Padel accounts on Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok
- premierpadel.com — current rankings, schedules, news
[OUTDATED] Broadcasting details and platforms may change — check the official website for the latest information.
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