The first evening broadcast of Padel on Canal + approached the controversy linked to the new rules imposed by the circuit Premier Padel for the 2025 season. Several players, including the consultants, have expressed dissatisfaction in the face of these changes.

A very interesting show hosted by Lyes Houhou with Sébastien Heulot, Laura Clergue and Robin Haziza.

The new regulations: “It’s shameful”

The topic is launched with a statement sharp from the Canal + team who reacted after the elimination of Thomas Leygue in the qualifications of the Riyadh tournament:

"First tournament in difficult conditions, two matches in one day, double bye for the seeded teams... In short, shameful."

Lyes Houhou explain the new regulations set up by the international federation of Padel (FIP) and the circuit Premier Padel :

  • Smaller main tables, which means that more players will have to go through qualifying.
  • An extended qualification system, passing two to three rounds to win to integrate the final table.
  • No compensation for those eliminated from the first round of qualifications, which means that players take charge all their travel, hotel and coach expenses without any guarantee of earning a single euro.

A major problem for players ranked beyond the top 50

Robin Haziza analyses the direct consequences of these changes:

"There is a problem, because the promise of the Premier Padel, when they bought the World Padel Tour, was to improve the conditions for players from world number one to 150th place. There, things get complicated."

He explains that tournament promoters have very high organisational costs, and that new measures are taken to make events more profitable :

"For a promoter to make money, the stands would have to be full on Monday or Tuesday. That's not the case. The best players in the world fill the stands on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So, if we want the circuit to continue to exist, we have to shorten the tables and remove people."

But according to him, It is always the same people who suffer the consequences :

"As always, it's the lower-ranked players who pay the highest price."

Increased physical and mental pressure for qualifying players

Sébastien Heulot brings another dimension to the problem:

"What is not talked about enough is that for those who play the qualifiers, it is not only more difficult to get in, but also much more physically demanding."

In fact, he explains that Players must play several rounds in sometimes extreme conditions, in particular to Riyadh, where temperatures are around 30 to 40 degrees.

"They play a first match at 10am that sometimes lasts 2 hours, then have to play a second match 30 or 4 hours later. During this time, the seeded players quietly enter the main draw thanks to byes."

Laura Clergue: “It’s discouraging for the new generation”

Laura Clergue says she is concerned about the impact on the next generation of world padel :

"It's discouraging for young players. Here, we're talking about Thomas Leygue who is already in the qualifiers, but we also have to think about those who can't even take part in tournaments anymore."

She mentions in particular the case of Timéo Fonteny and Yoan Boronad, two young French people trying to break through at the international level:

"With these new rules, they are even further away from having a chance of joining the circuit. Premier Padel. They will have to accumulate points in the tournaments of the International Federation of Padel (FIP), but it’s an obstacle course.”

The problem is not limited to young people:

"Players who were already struggling find themselves even more stuck. We often talk about the best players, but behind them, there are hundreds of players who are going to struggle even more to make a living from this sport."

A reinforced FIP circuit, but is it a real solution?

Robin Haziza tries to qualify this by recalling that The FIP circuit could benefit from these changes :

"This will strengthen the FIP Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze tournaments, which are becoming more and more numerous. There will be more opportunities for players outside the top 50."

But he acknowledges that These tournaments do not guarantee the same visibility or the same remuneration. :

"This FIP circuit will become in some way the equivalent of the challenger tournaments in tennis, but it remains a much less lucrative springboard than Premier Padel »

Tour stars take a stand against the new rules

Lyes Houhou reveals that Several top world players have taken a stand against these new rules. :

"In the men's category, the best decided not to participate in the first tournament in Spain, after Riyadh, as a sign of protest."

Laura Clergue emphasizes that Even though these players are protected by their status, they have decided to support their lower ranked colleagues :

"It's a strong gesture. They know that these new rules don't impact them directly, but they are still taking a stand for others."

Team Padel Mag

I wish the entire Padel Magazine has been trying to offer you the best of padel since 2013, but also surveys and analyses to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.

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