Initially relegated far behind the qualifiers,  Iago Fuertes and Bentahor Espino  will ultimately compete  Madrid P1 main draw  thanks to a wildcard. An invitation that offers both  Spanish Cadet Champions 2025 , aged only 16, a first major exhibition at  Movistar Arena .

A wildcard that completely changes their Madrid P1

The August 13,  Fuertes and Espino  were still listed in the  15th place on the waiting list , with a total of  462 points In this position, participation in the Madrid tournament seemed very unlikely.

But the update published on  August 26 by the International Padel Federation (FIP)  This completely changed the game: the two Spaniards received  one of the three wildcards awarded for the men's main draw .

This will allow them to avoid the qualifying rounds organized at  Coslada  and will begin directly at  Movistar Arena , where the first round of the men's tournament is scheduled for  1er September .

An invitation that rewards two promising young players, but above all a pair who already have a solid shared history.

Spanish junior champions and world vice-champions in pairs

 Iago Fuertes , born in February 2010, is originally from  Narón, in Galicia .  Bentahor Espino , born in December 2009, has just Ingenio, on the island of Gran Canaria .

Despite the distance separating them, the two players built a particularly successful partnership at the youth level. In 2025, they became  Spanish junior champions  by dominating in the final  Hugo Estébanez and Aaron Garcia , seeded 1, with a score of  7 / 5 7 / 6 .

They then joined the  Spanish U16 team  when  Reus Junior World Championships Spain secured the team title, while Fuertes and Espino reached the  final of the pairs tournament  in their category.

This wildcard therefore does not offer a partnership of circumstance: the two teenagers already possess automatic reflexes and experience of important meetings contested together.

Fuertes, already two titles on the CUPRA FIP Tour

In 2026, the two Spaniards mainly continued their progress with other partners.

Classroom  194th in the world as of August 24th Iago Fuertes already has  two titles on the CUPRA FIP Tour He first established himself at  FIP Bronze from Kolding  with Albert Roglan, before winning the  FIP Bronze from A Coruña  alongside Ferran Insa.

A second title that is bound to be special for the Galician, born less than an hour before the tournament, and victorious in front of his family and friends after a three-set final against  Boris Castro and Pau Miñano .

Fuertes also discovered the  qualifications of Premier Padel  on several occasions, notably at  Gijón, Valencia, Valladolid, Pretoria and London , without yet managing to establish itself permanently in the main tables.

Espino continues his rise

 Bentahor Espino  occupies, for its part, the  220th place in the world , the best ranking of his young career.

His summer was notably marked by a  final at the FIP Silver in Espoo , contested with Matteo Sargolini. Both players lost.  6 / 2 6 / 3  against Marc Sintes and Juan “Coquito” Zamora.

The Canary Islander has played in numerous tournaments this season, from  Madeira to Istanbul , Via  Agadir, Parma, Belfast and Finland These trips allow him to accumulate experience and points on the  FIP circuit .

At 16, directly facing the level Premier Padel

The wildcard spares them the qualifying rounds, but immediately propels them into a  main board of Premier Padel With respectively  273 and 220 individual points Fuertes and Espino could face a significantly more experienced pair right from the start of the competition.

Beyond the result, this  Madrid P1  will primarily allow us to measure their ability to keep pace with players already established at the highest level: speed of play, physical intensity, management of important moments and adaptation to a scene of a completely different dimension.

Following national titles and international youth competitions,  Iago Fuertes and Bentahor Espino are now changing scenery At just 16 years old, the two Spanish junior champions will have the opportunity to compete against the best at  Movistar Arena making their first appearance in the main painting one of the curiosities to follow in this  Madrid P1 .

Antoine Tricolet

I discovered the Padel I stumbled into Spain at a campsite. I was instantly hooked; passionate about padel, I follow international and regional news with the same excitement as the sport itself.

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