This is not the first time that these words have resonated on social networks or at the exit of a padel court.
But to believe some players during the last tournaments, the playing conditions would not be worthy of a World Padel Tour.

Menorca Open

While this week is being held the WPT Cordoba, a few days ago it was on the pretty island of Menorca that the players were fighting.

And it's  Benjamin Tison  who spoke first in a post on his Instagram page.

Ben Tison screenshot WPT Menorca

The Parisian did not hide his disappointment about the playing conditions that he considered “not worthy of a WPT”. Between the wind and humidity that reigned on the island, we cannot deny that it would have been perhaps more judicious to play this tournament indoors rather than on semi-covered courts… Finally, the areas of shade and sun, the gusts that moved the ball and the wet windows clearly did not allow the actors to play their best padel, which obviously affected the public.

Cordoba Open

This Tuesday it was the turn of Jaime Munoz, previas player also, to confide via an Instagram post. The young Spaniard regretted having left this World Padel Tour Cordoba with an ischio injury due to the many falls he had to face in his matches.

Jaime Munoz screenshot wpt cordoba instagram

Here it is the carpet and the attention paid to it that have been called into question. It must be said that the sand was distributed very unevenly on certain tracks of the club, which could cause false rebounds and slips.

For the player, the necessary conditions to practice padel at a professional level have simply not been met.

Finally, he mentioned a certain inequality in the treatment of players who play in previas and those who directly compete for the final table. Indeed, men's keys who start directly in the main draw always play in much better conditions. A point that the WPT will have to address if it wants to avoid the wrath of players who are new to qualifying and women who are only entitled to the central track from the quarters (and only for the two pairs whose the matches are broadcast)…

The WPT, not the only one concerned

The problem of playing conditions is not specific to World Padel Tour, nor even in padel. In tennis too, we hear players complain about the quality of the grass or clay. In football or rugby, pitches are also the subject of debate and we have seen many clubs switch to synthetic to allow players to always play in similar conditions. At the same time, avoiding the always disappointing "potato fields".

Perhaps this is what professional padel should aim for: tracks that are always the same in tournaments to allow all players to give their best. And reserve outdoor tournaments for the months of July and August only?

To continue on the theme:

Should we stop professional outdoor tournaments?

 

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