The French desert in Brussels, a consequence of the FIP strategy?

Le Brussels P2 begins this week, and one thing is clear: the near absence of French players in this tournament Premier PadelWhile the phenomenon may seem anecdotal, it actually reveals a broader trend that is redrawing the priorities and circuits of world padel.

Only one Frenchman among the men, a female presence explained by a low cut

At men's, Thomas Leygue is the only French player registered in Brussels, including the waiting list. This is unprecedented for a tournament of this magnitude. On the women's side, the presence is a little more significant, but this is explained by the fact that entry level qualifications is low , allowing players ranked above 200th in the world to enter the table. In reality, this opening reflects a growing disinterest among players in these P2s, preferring to move towards the FIP Tour , considered more accessible, less expensive and sometimes more lucrative in the short term in terms of points.

A strategic dilution of the circuits by the FIP and Premier Padel

This phenomenon is not the result of chance. If Premier Padel has partially succeeded/failed to officially reduce the size of its tables, the FIP seems to have found another way : multiply FIP tournaments to disperse players ranked beyond the Top 100 . An assumed dilution, which allows to “unclog” the P1 and P2 without having to modify their structure.

The strategy is paying off. This week, seven FIP tournaments are taking place in parallel with Brussels P2: Leiria (Portugal), Cyprus, Egypt, Chile, Hong Kong and Nola (Italy). There are no less of 19 French people involved on these tournaments.

FIP Tour – The French in force in Leiria, Cyprus, Hong Kong and Cairo

For comparison, during the Brussels P2 in 2024 , alone two FIP tournaments took place in parallel, with barely five French people registered Another revealing element: last year, the Brussels P2 waiting list included 19 pairs , This year, there are only eight of them left . Not because the players are not up to the task, but because they don't even want to participate anymore , favoring FIP circuits which seem more suited to their profile and their reality.

An assumed disaffection for Premier Padel ?

The phenomenon is not isolated. During the Qatar Major 2025 , another major tournament on the circuit Premier Padel, the same week also hosted five FIP tournaments , also attracting a large proportion of players to these tournaments, which are less exposed to the media but more accessible in terms of points, level, and sometimes budget.

This voluntary or forced shift towards the FIP Tour , organized by the same International Federation of Padel, shows that the FIP orchestrates a a kind of natural regulation of its ecosystem.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !