In our seriesbig fish eat small fish” or “how capitalism has nothing to envy to cannibalism”, let us look today at the recent and surprising reconciliation between the World Padel Tour et Premier Padel.

The circuit owned by a brand of Spanish beer and that belonging to Qatari billionaires seemed set to wage a merciless war… And yet, against all odds, these two sworn enemies could merge into a single circuit, as claimed by elsewhere professional players.

Singing birds, frolicking fawns

In a perfect world, they would have gotten satisfaction because their cause is just and their demands noble. Why endure a fairly destructive war when it is possible to ensure a bright future for padel, with little birds singing and fawns frolicking in a green meadow, bathed in sunshine?

In reality, the springs of peace have other justifications than the utopia of an earthly paradise. Clearly, if a peaceful outcome seems possible today between the WPT and Premier Padel, it's probably because one of these two fish made the other understand that he was going to eat it alive.

Confronted in 2022 with a competitor who has, for certain tournaments, quintupled the prize money awarded to players, World Padel Tour tried to regain control in 2023. The Spanish circuit offered players better conditions and better remuneration, on the condition, however, of signing a binding contract.

But this proposal was largely shunned by the male players and the association which federates them, PPA. On the women's side, after a year 2022 marked by respect for the contract signed by the best with the WPT (which runs until the end of 2023), players are more and more tempted to give in to the sirens of Premier Padel, who seeks to coax them. The association of professional female padel players (IPPA) has moreover welcomed the opening of discussions between the WPT and Premier Padel.

World Padel fip tour first padel purchase
Reconciliation of Premier Padel and World Padel Tour

We do not coin a field of ruin

Whether it likes it or not, the WPT will not be able to get the world's best players to stick with it. And shielding his 2023 calendar with 27 presumed obligatory tournaments only robs the players and incites them to revolt against this diktat, including legally.

Let us add that the WPT is weakened because it lost one of its two shareholders, Rucio Investments, last July. Does Setpoint Events SA, now sole owner of the WPT, have the backbone strong enough to overcome the Qatari giant QSI, supported by the International Padel Federation ? It's unlikely.

While it is said that Premier Padel would have made / would make a takeover (or merger) offer to the WPT, does the latter have other options than to accept? If the two circuits and their shareholders were to embark on an open war, the Spanish circuit would have everything to lose. The latter can still profit today by monetizing his experience and his know-how whereas a merciless fight could leave him bloodless: gold, one does not monetize a field of ruin!

For professional players, for padel fans and for the general public, there are only advantages to moving towards a unified professional circuit, with a single ranking and a reasonable calendar. On one condition, however: that this new circuit no longer abuses its dominant position to the detriment of the players.

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme fell into the padel pot in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves with a pala in hand! A journalist in Alsace, his only ambition is to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

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