Paula Josemaría points out an anomaly: "Winning a FIP Platinum pays almost twice as much as a quarter in P1"

Paula Josemaría isn't questioning the FIP Tour itself, but rather the balance between the different circuits. In an interview with the Spanish daily newspaper SPORT last June, the former world number one pointed out an anomaly in the FIP rankings: some results obtained on the secondary circuit can now be worth more than a performance achieved at the highest level. Premier PadelThis observation is all the more interesting given that the FIP and Premier Padel have since announced an initial correction to the system for 2027.

300 points against 180: Josemaría puts his finger on the problem

Paula Josemaría's observation is simple.

“Currently, winning a FIP Platinum award is worth almost twice as many points as reaching the quarter-finals in a P1, and that makes no sense given the level of requirement in Premier Padel is much higher.

The figures support his view on the discrepancy: A FIP Platinum title will earn 300 FIP points in 2026, compared to 180 points for a quarter-final appearance. Premier Padel P1.

So it's not quite double, but the ratio remains spectacular: a Platinum success brings in 67% more points .

A concrete example illustrates this difference. Juan Tello earned 300 points by winning the FIP Platinum in Portugal in June, while his quarter-final appearance at the Valencia P1 had earned him 180.

And this is precisely where the debate raised by Josemaría lies: the two performances are not necessarily comparable in terms of sporting density.

The problem isn't that the best ones play the FIP.

The Spaniard is careful not to accuse the players who take advantage of the system.

In his view, they are simply using the possibilities offered by the rules. When 300 points are available on a Platinum card, it becomes perfectly rational for a highly ranked player to go and get them.

And there are no longer any shortage of examples.

At the end of May, Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas thus won the FIP Platinum of Albania and the 300 points associated with the title. In the women's competition, Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda had won.

The FIP Tour, designed in particular as a way to progress in the rankings and gradually access the main draws Premier Padel, can therefore also become a strategic weapon for players already established among the elite .

It is this misuse of function that Josemaría seems to be questioning most.

A potentially serious consequence for the "middle of the pack" in the rankings

There is also a second, less visible effect.

When a top-ranked player participates in a Platinum event, it automatically raises the level required to compete for the high ranking points available. Players lower in the rankings, who use the FIP Tour precisely to progress and try to establish themselves permanently, also benefit from this. Premier Padel, may then find themselves facing players they would normally have encountered on the main circuit.

This is one of the paradoxes of the system.

Premier Padel is supposed to represent the apex of the pyramid, while the FIP Tour is intended to provide access to it. But when the points reward becomes sufficiently significant, the top player may be tempted to step down a level.

Josemaría believes that mid-table players could be among the first to be penalized.

And we can extend the observation to the FIP GOLD… like the famous FIP Gold Belgrade controversy where we will find the world's 4th and 5th ranked pairs.

Nieto/Yanguas and Stupaczuk/Sanz: 21 points separated and a FIP Gold Belgrade that could change everything

Another element comes into play: the cost

Moreover, the issue is not limited to points.

In his interview with SPORT, Josemaría also discusses the cost of participating in the various competitions. For some players, competing in a stage Premier Padel can represent a significant expense including transport, accommodation, staff and several days of competition.

Therefore, the sporting equation also becomes an economic one.

Why choose an extremely competitive tournament to try and win 90 or 180 points if a lower-tier tournament in the pyramid potentially offers the chance to earn more?

From the moment this question can reasonably be asked for a professional player, the scoring system begins to influence the choice of circuit.

The FIP and Premier Padel have decided to modify the system

And this is perhaps the most interesting element to compare with Paula Josemaría's statements.

The FIP and Premier Padel announced several changes in June, applicable from 2027 including an increase in the points awarded during the early rounds of competitions Premier Padel.

For a P1, for example, the quarter-final will go from 180 to 200 points The eighths will be revalued by 90 to 110 points , the round of 16 from 45 to 55 and the first rounds from 22 to 35 points.

The final rounds are therefore not disrupted, but the stated objective is clear: better reward players who progress through the rankings Premier Padel.

Even more significantly: New rules for participation in the FIP Tour will be introduced for the highest-ranked players. , depending on their ranking at the time registration closed.

In other words, the authorities have identified the same phenomenon: a certain consistency must be maintained between the function of the FIP Tour and that of Premier Padel.

Even so… these changes are considered far too minor to have a real impact on the problem. Moreover, the FIP hasn't even touched the FIP Platinum.

Premier Padel and the FIP are preparing a major reform for 2027: what will change for players

A reform that does not yet completely solve the equation

The increase planned for 2027 will, however, only alleviate part of the problem raised by Josemaría.

If we only compare the quarter-final of a P1, the increase from 180 to 200 points reduces the gap with the 300 points currently associated with a Platinum title, but obviously does not eliminate it.

The whole question will therefore be to know precisely the restrictions applied to top players on the FIP Tour in 2027 and the possible parallel evolution of the Platinum pricing structure.

Because the stakes go far beyond a few dozen points.

The aim is to maintain a true sporting pyramid: allowing players to progress through the FIP, and then to join Premier Padel, rather than encouraging players already established at the top to regularly come back to seek points on the lower tier.

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.