Many of you don't understand why. Premier Padel currently only brings together gentlemen? Why don't players play this circuit yet? Is it a choice of this new professional circuit of the International Federation of Padel (FIP), supported by the Association of Professional Players and Qatar Sports Investment (QSI)?

Exclusively, Padel Magazine explains another battle in this war between circuits.

Thanks to the testimonies of professional players whose names we will keep hidden for reasons that you will easily understand, we will finally understand the reasons for the choice of the ladies not to play the Premier Padel for now, despite FIP's insistence.

A supportive environment Premier Padel, Nevertheless…

As often, in this type of situation, forget statements like “we do it for the padel, for its development, because we like the padel", etc. You will understand that very logically, it is above all and only a story of big money.

The players of padel have for the moment remained faithful to the World Padel Tour, certainly for reasons that would be mainly contractual, which however did not prevent the gentlemen from looking elsewhere. And so far, the WPT hasn't really moved, despite the threats. Worse, the rare legal attempts to oppose the arrival of Premier Padel all failed. And the WPT has also applied an ostrich policy which has rather cost it dearly in terms of image with fans, players and brands. And even its one and only shareholder, Rucio Investments!

Rucio Investments abandons the World Padel Tour

The establishment of a truly professional environment around the padel could have pushed the players to want to take advantage of these incredible tournaments that Premier Padel at the Foro Italico, Roland-Garros or Mendoza.

But you will understand that in reality, it is a little more complicated than that.

"Players will have less in Premier Padel than on the WPT”

Premier Padel wouldn't have offered the ladies contracts as attractive as the gentlemen. The gentlemen accepted because financially the financial allocations were multiplied up to 5, because the events were more international, because the conditions are more professional and they were promised to play on exceptional sites. And so far, no one has been disappointed.

But on the ladies' side, if the conditions for the tournaments of the “Grand Chelem"are actually"exceptional“, the winnings offered during the other tournaments are not up to what the gentlemen receive.

Worse: according to one of our sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, “It is more financially attractive to date to continue with the World Padel Tour only with Premier Padel. THE World Padel Tour aligned its prize-money with that of the gentlemen. Whereas for now, Premier Padel haven't done it yet".

Also according to this source, “The risk is to be enrolled in Premier Padel and having to fight again like we did back then with the World Padel Tour, so that the conditions of the players are the same as the men".

What are the latest WPT cards?

The players want to see what the last cards of the World Padel Tour. The survival of this beleaguered circuit depends on it. And they seem to think that this last card might be the right one for them. At the same time, this strategy is interesting, because it makes it possible to show the bids.

According to one of the players who confided in us, “In fact, we've been waiting for a little while Premier Padel, that he's really showing the muscles to get us. For now, nothing is happening. They were especially interested in the gentlemen who all rushed to join them".

"When we hear the FIP President explain that he hopes to see the ladies join the Premier Padel while he is certainly aware that the conditions offered to ladies are not the same as for gentlemen, that makes us laugh. We thought that the FIP should rather advocate a certain form of fairness."

Even if relations between the players and the FIP remain good, this last remark is above all intended to move the lines and push the FIP to make a financial effort for the padel female.

"It's happening now for us"

"We know that the future of padel professional decides now. There are two behemoths facing each other. For us, it is obvious that we do not want to do as the gentlemen do and throw ourselves into the arms of Premier Padel, even if there would be a lot to say about the World Padel Tour".

2023 may be the last year of the World Padel Tour. But maybe not.

Behind the scenes, the World Padel Everything promises us to work on a new project that will “revolutionize the world of padel".

Moreover, these remarks are directly confirmed by the new strong man of the professional circuit by Estrella Damn, former Roland-Garros finalist, Alex Corretja himself.

A battle but clans

In this battle, there would obviously be clans. Indeed, it is mainly the best players in the world who have taken the “lead” in this negotiation with the World Padel Tour et Premier Padel.

Some voices, those of players beyond the 30th place in the world, wonder if we will not forget them. Another circuit is starting to get talked about among the ladies: the APT Padel Tour.

Fabrice Pastor's circuit is also making its mark. And we have been able to see lately, players from the World Padel Tour test yourself on the APT Padel Round. What was a lèse-majesté crime, a few months ago, becomes possible: the WPT is overwhelmed on its flank by players who try the adventure elsewhere, courted by another enemy…

The good news is competition. With three professional circuits, the players have the choice. But the ideal for them would be for them to be able to make a living from their sport and not be subjected – like the gentlemen this year – to a schedule that puts the bodies to the test.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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