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In recent seasons, there have been significant changes in the competitive realm of professional padel. The growth of the 20×10 sport has enabled the coexistence of different circuits such as Premier Padel, World Padel Tour, and A1 Padel among others.
This situation opens up a wide range of opportunities for the new generation of players looking to turn professional, a goal that remains challenging today due to the high economic costs involved in competing at the elite level of padel.
What are the differences between Premier Padel, World Padel Tour, and A1 Padel?
In this article, we break down the aspects that have differentiated these three circuits from each other: from organization to the color of the courts, including the various stars who compete on them.
Each has its own calendar and rankings, and they generally do not share the same players, as tournament dates often overlap. Here are the differences between Premier Padel, World Padel Tour, and A1 Padel:
What is Premier Padel?
Premier Padel is considered the most important circuit in the world of professional padel since the beginning of 2024. It is governed by the International Padel Federation and is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, a company led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the current owner of the Paris Saint Germain football team.
Founded in 2022, it has succeeded in bringing professional padel to globally renowned locations such as Roland Garros and the Foro Italico. The current Premier Padel 2024 calendar features 25 events spread across five continents with the aim of continuing to expand the sport globally.
It is the circuit that offers the largest economic prizes and brings together the most talented players. It has the challenging task of keeping the bar high in professional padel after taking over from what was the leading circuit globally from 2013 to 2023: World Padel Tour.
What is World Padel Tour?
The blue heart circuit was the one that ruled global padel from 2013 until the end of 2023, when Qatar Sports Investments acquired its economic rights to merge it with Premier Padel. It took over from the defunct Pro Padel Tour, succeeding in the last decade in expanding padel worldwide through the organizational capacity of its tournaments and by achieving large television audiences. The company that managed the circuit during this time was Setpoints SL, a subsidiary of the SA Damm group.
Among its many achievements, it matched the economic prizes in men’s and women’s tournaments on several occasions and promoted the golden point rule, which is now used in many amateur tournaments to shorten matches. This rule dictates that when a match reaches a score of 40-40 (deuce), the pair that wins the next point scores a game in their favor, eliminating the advantages.
What is A1 Padel?
A1 Padel is a professional padel circuit founded in 2020 by the Monegasque businessman Fabrice Pastor. Currently, it has solidified internationally by having a calendar that includes 18 events spread across different categories: Future, Open, Master, and GrandMaster. It is characterized by red carpet on the courts and features tournaments held in exclusive locations like the Monaco Casino.
The goal of A1 Padel is not just to be a solid alternative to Premier Padel and World Padel Tour but to become the leading circuit in global padel over the years, attracting the best players with a greater distribution of economic prizes.
Top Players in Premier Padel 2024
Currently, leading the men’s ranking of Premier Padel is the Spanish-Argentinian pair of Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia. Close behind are the new duo of Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto, while in third place are the Andalusians Juan Lebrón and Paquito Navarro. The top five are rounded out by two Argentine pairs: the ‘Superkids’ Franco Stupaczuk and Martín Di Nenno in fourth place, and Juan Tello and Fernando Belasteguín in fifth.
In the women’s ranking, Ariana Sánchez and Paula Josemaría comfortably lead the circuit, though the young pair of Bea González and Delfi Brea are strong contenders in second position. The third step is for Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernández, while fourth place is occupied by Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo. Meanwhile, the top five includes the Spanish-Argentinian duo of Martita Ortega and Verónica Virseda.
Top Players in A1 Padel 2024
Currently, leading the men’s ranking of A1 Padel is the Argentine duo of Maximiliano Arce and Franco Dal Bianco. They are followed by Leonel ‘Tolito’ Aguirre and Gonzalo Alfonso in second position; third place goes to Juan Ignacio De Pascual and Agustín Torre, while in fourth position are Ramiro Pereyra and Adrián ‘Tito’ Allemandi, followed in fifth place by Pablo Barrera and Diego Ramos.
How to Watch Premier Padel 2024?
This season, Premier Padel tournaments can be watched for free on YouTube and Red Bull TV. The early rounds can be enjoyed on the official YouTube channel of the circuit, while from the quarterfinals onwards, the matches are broadcast on RedBull TV.
How to Watch A1 Padel 2024?
Tournaments of A1 Padel can be watched in full on YouTube and the Mitele app. The circuit of Fabrice Pastor has reached an agreement with Mediaset so that the television conglomerate could also broadcast the various events of the current season.
How to Get Tickets for Premier Padel 2024?
Official tickets for Premier Padel tournaments can be obtained through various platforms always announced on the official channels of the circuit months before the ball starts rolling. On the official Premier Padel website, all relevant information about this aspect can be found in the ‘Tournaments’ section.
How to Get Tickets for A1 Padel 2024?
Official tickets for A1 Padel tournaments can be obtained through various platforms always announced on the official channels of the circuit months before the ball starts rolling. On the official A1 Padel website, all relevant information about this aspect can be found in the ‘Tournaments’ section.
