Fewer points on the 2026 FIP Tour? Premier Padel could put pressure on the FIP to do as in tennis…

The participation of Alex Ruiz (22nd in the world) et Maxi Sanchez (28th) to FIP Silver in Palermo , while a tournament Premier Padel P2 took place simultaneously in Valladolid, surprised more than one observer. This strategic choice highlights a structural problem in professional padel: the lack of clear rules regulating access to lower level tournaments.

Tennis: a structured and regulated model

In the professional tennis , the hierarchy is clear. We distinguish:

the ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments (Formerly Futures )
the ATP Challenger tournaments
the tests ATP Tours (250, 500, 1000, Grand Chelem)

The Futures are reserved for developing players , with low endowments ($15 to $000) and limited ATP points (10 to 25 for a winner). If they are open to all on paper, Top 200 players almost never participate The reason is simple: the sporting and strategic interest is almost zero .

The Challengers , located one notch above, offer up to 125 ATP points for a victory. However, access there is regulated :

Ban on players in the world's top 50 to participate (except by derogation)
Limited access for Top 100 players
Priority given to players in progress

This organization allows to protect development circuits , promote major tournaments and of guarantee a clear sector .

Fewer points on the 2026 FIP Tour? Premier Padel could put pressure on the FIP

Padel: a hierarchy still unclear

In padel, the system is still young. FIP Tour (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), under the aegis of the International Federation of Padel , is supposed to play the role of an intermediate circuit, intended for players outside the Top 50 .

Corn (Mais) no formal rule limits access to the highest ranked . Result: Top 30 or even Top 20 players , regularly engage even in Silver FIPs…

A Silver FIP rather than a P2? The surprising choice of Ruiz and Sánchez

Why such a choice?

The example of Ruiz and Sánchez is revealing: Palermo , a victory could bring them 80 FIP points , against only 45 points in the event of the eighth final in Valladolid, their best result on the circuit Premier PadelThe calculation is quickly done.

In addition to gain points , these tournaments allow:

de regain confidence
de become the headliner of an event again
de attract local sponsors
de gain media visibility

A double imbalance

This operation poses two major problems :

For young players , which see secondary tables blocked by headliners
For the image of Premier Padel , occasionally abandoned by its own stars

The risk is clear: loss of readability , blurred hierarchy , and an FIP circuit which no longer fulfills its initial function of springboard to the elite or, of secondary tournaments.

What solutions for FIP?

It is especially Premier Padel which would seem to push The International Federation of Padel to think about several avenues, inspired by the ATP model:

Limit access to the FIP Tour to players ranked outside the Top 30 or Top 50
Reduce the points distributed on Silver, Gold and Platinum FIPs
Prioritize registrations to the FIP for lower ranked players
Ban participation in an FIP tournament and a Premier Padel is programmed in parallel
Structure the calendar to avoid date conflicts

A professionalization challenge

In the tennis , this structuring made it possible to build a meritocratic ecosystem , readable and stable. Each tournament level has its role, its rules, its participants. Padel can — and must — draw inspiration from this.

The FIP Tour must remain a gateway , not a strategic escape. Premier Padel must become a goal , not an avoidable constraint.

Another direct consequence of this deregulation: certain pairs ranked between 100th and 200th in the world , who came to the FIP Tour for gain experience, points and confidence , find themselves confronted from the first round Has players in the world's top 50 . A frustrating situation for these duos, who invest time and money in travel, accommodation and training, with the legitimate hope of advancing a few rounds. Coming up against a world leader right from the start often ruins any sporting objective, and transforms these tournaments, which are supposed to be springboards, into insurmountable obstacles For these players, consistency and progression also depend on the possibility of reaching the final stages, which becomes almost impossible in such configurations.

At a time when padel is reaching a global milestone, it now needs regulate its growth , define its circuits et protect its developing players If padel wants to reach the demanding level of professional tennis, this will necessarily involve clear accessibility rules , a consistent allocation of points et a long-term vision .

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.