As calls for a lighter schedule multiply in the world of professional padel, a paradox is glaring: some of the best players continue to multiply their commitments.  outside the official circuit Premier Padel Between exhibitions, private leagues and alternative competitions, the elite seems caught in a spiral of ever-increasing events... sometimes in contradiction with its own discourse.

A busy season… and tears in Bordeaux

The emotion reached its peak at  Premier Padel Bordeaux P2 , where the two world number 1s,  Ariana Sánchez  et  Agustín Tapia , cracked in public.
The former, physically weakened, left the court in tears after a surprise defeat. The latter, nervously drained, burst into tears after a fight that lasted more than two hours.

These striking scenes have rekindled the debate on the  overload of the professional calendar . Some players, like Tapia himself, have already pointed out the  infernal pace  of the circuit. Yet, at the same time, many of them are committed to  other side events , and sometimes even rather trying.

Alternative circuits on the rise

•  The Pro Padel League (PPL) 

Born in the United States, the Pro Padel League offers a team-based competition format, halfway between sport and entertainment. It attracts stars like Tapia, Chingotto, and Ari Sánchez, who participate in high-profile and well-paid matches, despite an already crowded schedule.

•  The Hexagon Cup 

Held in Madrid, this mixed team competition brings together star players, juniors and celebrities from other sports (Rafa Nadal, Lionel Messi and Andy Murray are involved). It aims to be festive and popular, but adds a  new date imposed on already exhausted players .

•  FIP's new initiatives 

The International Federation of Padel launched:
- An experienced management  FIP Continental Cup , inspired by the Laver or Ryder Cup formats, pitting the best players from America and Europe against each other. Initially planned for 2025, it was finally  postponed to 2026 , due to an already overloaded schedule.

•  Other competitions in development 

Many  new circuits or tournaments  are currently in gestation, particularly in  Spain , with the ambition of seducing the  world best players These projects would add to an already complex schedule, making it even more difficult to get a real rest period for the headliners.

•  The A1 Padel (ex-APT) 

Long considered the major alternative circuit to Premier Padel,  A1 Padel suspended its activities in 2025 A temporary setback at first glance, but one that reveals the difficulty of making several elite circuits coexist.

An assumed paradox?

This double discourse raises questions:  How to denounce fatigue... while adding dates to your diary? 

On the one hand, players are demanding better schedule management, a balance between performance and recovery, and even the creation of real rest periods. On the other, they are accepting—or seeking—contracts for secondary competitions, often motivated by financial or media considerations.

A model to rethink?

This phenomenon reveals a growing tension between  professionalization of padel  et  overexposure of its stars Sponsors, organizers and circuits are multiplying their proposals, and players find themselves at the heart of a system that also relies on their image.

Should we  further regulate commitments outside the official circuit  ? Premier Padel must he  introduce mandatory rest periods  ?

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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