Premier Padel Finals in Santiago, Chile

Women’s
The recent Premier Padel tournaments had few upsets, but Santiago P1 was unpredictable, especially in the women’s draw.

In the first round, unranked Nuria and Laia Rodríguez defeated second-seeded Bea González and Delfina Brea, who had won four titles in 2024, with scores of 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. Additionally, fifth-ranked Tamara Icardo and Alejandra Salazar had to retire in the first round due to Icardo's injury. Salazar has registered to play with the world's number 22-ranked player, Carmen Goenaga, at the Rome Major from June 16-22.

Men’s
Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello won the Premier Padel Santiago P1 2024, claiming their fifth title of the season. They faced second-seeds Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto in their fifth final of the year.

Tapia and Coello advanced to the final with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Fernando Belasteguín and Juan Tello in the quarter-finals, followed by a 6-4, 6-4 win against Juan Lebrón and Paquito Navarro in the semi-finals.

In the final match at the Movistar Arena, Tapia and Coello won the first set 6-0. Galán and Chingotto took the second set 6-4, but Tapia and Coello secured the third set 6-4 to win the match.

This victory reinforces Tapia and Coello's position as the world’s top doubles pair and extends their lead in the 2024 season title race with five titles compared to their rivals' three.

Rafa Nadal’s Padel Tour Debuts

The Rafa Nadal Academy Padel Tour by The Adecco Group has been officially launched in Madrid. This new amateur padel circuit aims to blend competition, leisure, and values, as explained by Maribel Nadal, Deputy Director General of the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. The tour features six events across Spain, including stops in Santander, Madrid, Valladolid, Marbella, Alicante, and Barcelona, culminating in a final at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca from October 8-13.

The circuit's first event begins in Santander at the G6 club from June 6-9. It will host 32 amateur teams, divided into two men’s categories and two women’s categories. Each team, composed of six players, will play at least two qualifying rounds. Winners from each event will qualify for the final in December. Participants will enjoy activities, welcome packs, and raffles, with sponsors like BABOLAT, QUIRÓNSALUD, and ZEL providing additional incentives.

Maribel Nadal emphasized the excitement surrounding the tour and the strong demand, with many teams on the waiting list. She believes this model, which combines sport and leisure, will be successful.

5 Things to Read

1. Developers turn 124-year-old hydro power plant into padel facility (Richmond, VA)

2. Men’s Health reviews padel rackets and gives us the 6 best for summer

3. After Year of Growth in US, Padel Seeks Next Step in 2024 (Sportico)

4. A fitness writer plays padel for the first time (Tom’s Guide)

5. Why Padel Is Luxury’s New Favourite Sport (Business of Fashion)

See you next week with even more padel content.

Sincerely,