After a completely crazy week in South Africa, Premier Padel This is followed by another major first: the London P1. While the playing conditions will be nothing like those in Pretoria, one question is on everyone's lips: will the surprises and suspense continue on the Olympia London tracks? 

Two new tournaments, two philosophies of play

In the space of a week, the players go from one extreme to the other.

In Pretoria, the altitude and the fast conditions made for one of the quickest tournaments of the season. Smashes were ubiquitous, the rallies incredibly explosive, and several players, starting with Paquito Navarro, never managed to find the right tactical solutions. London promises to be the complete opposite.

Indoors, at sea level, conditions should be much slower, with more rallies, a more structured game, and a greater emphasis on defense and patience. This change could completely reshuffle the deck.

Pretoria reminded everyone that the circuit needed surprises.

Beyond the playing conditions, it was the Pretoria P1 tournament's dramatic storyline that truly captivated everyone. Rarely has a tournament offered so many twists and turns. Both finals were decided by a third-set tiebreak, but the excitement didn't end on Sunday.

At men's,  Sanyo Gutiérrez and Juanlu Esbrí , brought together for the first time, have had an exceptional run to the semi-finals. Even more impressive,  Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero  have overturned the hierarchy by successively eliminating Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger, then Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, before coming within one point of the title against Galán and Chingotto.

For the women, the first tournament of  Martina Calvo and Claudia Fernández  will also be remembered as one of the season's great revelations. At just 18 and 20 years old, the two Spanish players challenged the world's number 1 players until the third-set tie-break of the final.

And how can we not mention the return to prominence of Alejandra Salazar  For his first association with  Aranza Osoro The former world number one has reached the semifinals of a P1 tournament, reminding everyone that she is still capable of competing with the best. These unexpected and refreshing runs have breathed new life into a circuit sometimes dominated by the same old matchups.

Pretoria P1: Experience prevailed over the new generation

Confirmations will be just as interesting as surprises.

Now that the Pretoria madness has subsided, another challenge begins. Some pairs will have to prove that their performance wasn't just a one-off feat.

All eyes will naturally be on  Martina Calvo and Claudia Fernández Their first partnership exceeded all expectations. Replicating such a feat will be extremely difficult, but each of their outings will now be watched very closely.

The same observation applies to men with  Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero Their difficult start to the season now seems to be a thing of the past. After having one of the best runs of the year, they will have to show that this new level can be sustained over time.

The problem is that London will be nothing like Pretoria. The slower conditions will demand more patience, better build-up play, and a different tactical approach. It's an excellent opportunity to see if their level of play can adapt to all situations.

Pretoria P1 – Chingalán returns to the top after an epic final against Leal and Guerrero

There are scores to settle

This change in conditions could also benefit some pairs who missed out in South Africa. We're obviously thinking of...  Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno , eliminated prematurely. The Spaniard had also admitted after his defeat that he had never found the solution to play in such fast conditions, explaining that it had become impossible to lob effectively.

Same observation for  Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz They too were eliminated much earlier than expected. In slower conditions, their defensive prowess and ability to build rallies could once again make the difference. This is also the whole point of this transition between Pretoria and London. In just a few days, the circuit goes from a tournament where speed reigned supreme to one where tactics should once again take precedence.

Will the spectacle be as intense? It's hard to top Pretoria. But if London manages to offer as much suspense, even with a completely different style of play, Premier Padel could well follow up with a second historic week.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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