At 31, Sofia Araújo clearly doesn't consider herself to have reached her peak. In the podcast Bandeja de Premier PadelThe Portuguese player opened up about an ambition she fully embraces: to one day become world number 1. A huge goal for someone who has already reached world number 6 and won three titles on the circuit. Premier Padel. 

Sofia Araújo occupies a unique place in women's padel. Born in Lisbon, a left-handed player, the Portuguese has managed to establish herself permanently in an elite historically dominated by Spain and Argentina.

His official FIP profile now shows a better career ranking at the  6th place in the world three titles Premier Padel and more than 120 victories on the circuit. As of August 14, 2026, she holds the  8th place in the world .

But Araújo does not seem to consider this success as an end in itself.

"All athletes dream of being the best."

 Do you still dream of becoming world number 1? 

 Sofia Araújo:  "Without a doubt. I think that ultimately, all athletes dream of being the best in their discipline. I know it's very difficult, I know we all have this goal, but obviously, I'm not going to lie: yes, I do."

The Portuguese player does not downplay the magnitude of the challenge. But she also refuses to consider the world number one ranking as unattainable.

 Sofia Araújo:  "I know it's very complicated, but I think nothing is impossible in this life and I'm going to fight to get there."

A powerful statement, especially when placed in the context of his career.

Three titles Premier Padel and a special place

Araújo counts  three titles Premier Padel .

The first two were won in 2024 with Marta Ortega, at  Genoa then NewGiza The FIP also confirmed at the end of the season that the Spanish-Portuguese pair had won both P2s.

The third one arrived in  2025 in Bordeaux , this time with Andrea Ustero. Araújo/Ustero beat Bea Caldera/Carmen Goenaga 7/5 2/6 6/2 in the final. For Ustero, it was then a first title Premier Padel ; for Araújo, of the third.

This success has a particularity that the interviewer reminds her of: Araújo managed to win on the circuit without belonging to the two great historical nations of professional women's padel.

"I am the outsider."

 Does this special status give you more pressure or more pride? 

 Sofia Araújo:  “To be honest, I think there are good and bad things. The good thing is that, in the end, as you say, I’m the underdog. I’m the only one among so many Spanish and Argentinian players. Of course, there are French players and players from many other countries, and that’s very good for our sport.”

It continues:

 Sofia Araújo:  "But I'm the only one in the Top 10, and that gives me a lot of pride, because in the end it's my work. I know what I've suffered to be here."

This notion of work recurs constantly in his discourse.

Virginia Riera, a pivotal moment

Before the titles, before the Top 10 and before the ambitions of world number one, Araújo had to overcome several hurdles.

In the interview, she notably discusses her association with Virginia Riera and her first significant results at the highest level.

 At what point did you begin to feel that all the sacrifices could truly lead you to the elite? 

 Sofia Araújo:  "When I played my first shifts with Vir, I think that's when you realize that all your work starts to be recognized, that you're finally reaping the rewards of that work."

These results gradually changed the way he viewed his own career.

 Sofia Araújo:  "Little by little, I think you're holding on, you're enjoying it too, you're working hard believing you can succeed. And that's what I'm continuing to do."

Then comes a sentence that probably explains why, at 31, she continues to speak openly about being number 1.

 Sofia Araújo:  "I think I still have something to offer padel. I think I can progress, I have a lot of things to improve and I'm going to try to give my all every day."

A difficult but deliberate ambition.

The road ahead obviously remains immense.

Women's padel has become extremely competitive, and Araújo herself acknowledges this in the interview. But it is precisely this competition that seems to fuel her message: she doesn't claim to be a favorite for the world number one ranking, she simply states that she refuses to give up on the idea of ​​achieving it.

His background gives him some arguments.

She reached 6th place in the world rankings and won three titles. Premier Padel with two different partners and has established herself for several seasons among the best players on the planet.

At 31, Sofia Araújo therefore has no desire to look back.

His ultimate goal remains ahead:

 to become world number 1. 

Comments taken from the podcast Bandeja de Premier Padel, during the BNL Italy Major 2026 in Rome.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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