A rapid expansion, the fastest in global sports history. Padel is about to enter a new, exciting chapter in its global rise from March 18–23 at Miami Beach, with a tournament from the world’s most important professional circuit: the motorola razr Miami Premier Padel P1 will be an extraordinary milestone and a key moment in the sport’s history. Miami will host one of the most prestigious events on the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour calendar, featuring the top-ranked players in the world. The P1 is the highest category of tournament in the circuit, just below the four Majors (Doha, Paris, Rome, Acapulco) and the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals.
THE GLOBAL BOOM – The astonishing growth of padel is captured in the World Padel Report 2024 from the FIP Research & Data Analysis Department, part of the International Padel Federation (FIP) led by Luigi Carraro, the sport’s global governing body. Over the past five years, the sport has expanded from 50 to 140 countries, with 87 national federations now affiliated with the FIP— including the USPA (United States Padel Association) — from all five continents. Today, there are over 70,000 courts and more than 30 million players worldwide, a huge leap considering there were “just” 8 million players and 21,000 courts in 2018.
Spain and Argentina reign supreme in the sport, with both countries having long been home to the most popular and widely followed padel leagues. These two nations also dominate the World Titles —Spain in women’s and Argentina in men’s — and are home to the sport’s top players. But the gap is narrowing: many emerging countries are making strides, and the level of play is improving worldwide, thanks to FIP’s close collaboration with national federations. This growth is being felt across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The World Padel Championships last year perfectly showcased the sport’s popularity, with 96 teams (54 men’s and 42 women’s) competing, compared to 51 teams (28 men’s and 13 women’s) in 2018.
GROWTH IN THE U.S. Padel is also steadily growing in the United States. In just the past two years, courts have increased by 186%. According to a targeted study from FIP’s Research & Data Analysis Department, by early 2025 there are over 650 courts across 31 states, with more than 100,000 recreational players and nearly 2,000 professional license holders. This growth is being led by Florida, the state with the fastest increase, boasting 268 courts, 41% of the nation’s total. The number of official national competitions managed by the United States Padel Association (USPA) has also expanded, with 48 events scheduled for 2024.
PREMIER PADEL, THE ELITE CIRCUIT – Founded by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in collaboration with the FIP and the Professional Padel Association (PPA), the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour is the premier global professional padel circuit. It is the only tour, alongside the CUPRA FIP Tour, that awards points for the official FIP rankings. Since its launch in 2022, the tour has quickly become a major fixture in international padel, featuring the world’s top players. Between 2023 and 2024, the tour went global, expanding from 6 to 24 major events, including the Finals in Barcelona.
The success has been massive, with sell-out crowds at many events, and tournaments held in some of the most iconic sports venues worldwide, from the legendary Roland Garros in Paris to the historic Foro Italico in Rome. The tour includes major events like the Doha Major in Qatar, the heart of Asian padel, the P1 in Madrid — an iconic padel city — and the Finals in Barcelona, which will take place this December. Besides the Finals, the circuit features three tournament categories: Majors (four in 2025), which are equivalent to tennis Slams; P1s, like the motorola razr Miami Premier Padel P1, similar to ATP 1000s; and P2s, which mirror ATP 500s.
Premier Padel represents the highest level of competition, with the best players battling for rankings, prestige, and history. Last season alone, 2,500 matches were played, with about 600 athletes from 30 countries. Premier Padel’s debut in the United States will be a pivotal moment for the sport and will further strengthen its global reach.
CUPRA FIP TOUR, A “TALENT FACTORY” Another key element in the global growth of padel is the CUPRA FIP Tour, the world’s most extensive circuit, designed to offer players a unique international experience and a chance to earn valuable FIP ranking points. With 160 tournaments already confirmed for 2025 (a 40% increase from last year), the tour will cover all five continents. The four categories for 2025 — FIP Platinum, FIP Gold, FIP Silver, and FIP Bronze — aim not only to promote padel globally with international-level players but also to nurture new talent. The tour creates a path for young hopefuls to become major players on the world stage, competing in Premier Padel events.
Speaking of young talent, there’s also space for the next generation, thanks to the FIP Promises Tour, a circuit for the NextGen (under 18s) that has grown from 6 to 74 tournaments in just three years.
THE BIG PLAYERS Among the stars, it’s the world number one, Spain’s Arturo Coello, who made his mark in the CUPRA FIP Tour before becoming a dominant force in Premier Padel tournaments. The 23-year-old from Valladolid claimed fourteen titles in 2024, including an incredible 47 straight wins from July to December, partnering with fellow number one Agustin Tapia from Argentina, nicknamed “The Mozart of Catamarca” for his creative style of play. The two kicked off 2025 with a win in the Riyadh P1 and will be the stars of Miami too. Other top players expected at the Miami Beach Convention Center include Ale Galan and Fede Chingotto, two of the few players who gave Coello and Tapia a run for their money last year. Keep an eye on the new duo of Franco Stupaczuk and Juan Lebron, finalists in Riyadh. Also on the list are Mike Yanguas-Coki Nieto, Martin Di Nenno-Javi Garrido, and one of the most beloved players, Paquito Navarro, teamed up with Lucas Bergamini. And among the “young guns,” look out for Pablo Cardona and Leo Augsburger, who reached the semifinals in their debut in Saudi Arabia.
On the women’s side, Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria are leading the charge as the most successful pairing in the history of women’s padel. Like Tapia and Coello, the reigning number one duo (with 10 titles in 2024) took the first title of 2025 in Riyadh. But the competition is heating up with new faces challenging their dominance. Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez, who won six titles in 2024, have shaken things up by swapping partners: Triay is now playing with Argentina’s Delfi Brea, while Fernandez, who rose to global prominence alongside Gemma last year, will pair with Bea Gonzalez, Brea’s partner until December. Solid duos like Marta Ortega and Sofia Araujo, who claimed two titles in 2024, and Lucia Sainz and Patty Llaguno — experienced players who were once number one in the world — will also be in the mix. Watch out for Andrea Ustero and Ale Alonso, two rising stars who, at just 35 years combined, were already shaking up the plans of top players in 2024. The race for the top of the padel world will be thrilling.