Riyadh Season P1, let the show begin. Stupa-Di Nenno drawn in the same half of Lebron-Galan

The 2024 Premier Padel season begins in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Season P1 is the first event of a season that promises to be historic and exciting, with one professional circuit – Premier Padel – under the governance of the International Padel Federation, one calendar and one ranking. The main draw has been drawn, which from Monday will see the best world players on court, including confirmed and new pairs.

MEN’S TOURNAMENT – In the men’s tournament, made up of 48 pairs, the 16 seeded players will enter the court directly in the second round. For Juan Lebron and Ale Galan, who won the last Premier in 2023, the P1 in Milan, there will be the winning pair of Windahl/Marmolejo-Gonzalez/Luque. Lebron and Galan are in the same half of the draw as ‘Superpibes’ Franco Stupaczuk and Martin Di Nenno, who are expected to play against Spaniards Ayats/Guerrero or a pair from the qualifiers. The final of the first Premier tournament in 2024 will not be like the same of the last one in 2023. Chingotto/Gonzalez, one of the new ‘parejas’ of 2024, will debut against Gil/Moya or against two qualified.

In the bottom half, Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia (winners of four Premier titles in 2023, in Rome, Madrid, Mendoza and Paris) await J.Ruiz/Cardona or a pair from the qualifiers. Among the most awaited new pairs is the return of the duo formed by Paquito Navarro and Sanyo Gutierrez, the number 4 seed: for them, Rico/Esbrì or two qualified. The last season as a professional, Fernando Belasteguin will begin it with Lucho Capra; first match against the Italians Patiniotis/Dominguez or the wild cards Althagib/Redha.

WOMEN’S DRAW – On the other hand, 32 pairs compose the women’s draw, with no ‘bye’: the world’s best female players will also debut in the first round. Spanish derby for Paula Josemaria and Ari Sanchez (1) against Talavan/Rodriguez; a qualified pair for Brea/Gonzalez (2), winners in Milan in December. The Riyadh Season P1 will be the last tournament for Marta Ortega and Gemma Triay (3) together: they will start with a match against Merino/Saiz. New partner for Alejandra Salazar, who will make her debut with Tamara Icardo (4) against Martinez/Ruiz Soto. Maria Virginia Riera and Sofia Araujo, also new to the circuit and seeded number 5, await Italy’s Carlotta Casali and Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena.