Australian Padel Open, the CUPRA FIP Tour starts in Sydney. Rafter back on court

First days of 2025 and padel is ready to a great start. The CUPRA FIP Tour, the International Padel Federation’s circuit that saw 115 tournaments played on five continents in 2024, kicks off from Australia and Sydney, home of the FIP Silver Australian Padel Open. On the court, among others, will be tennis legend Pat Rafter, who already took the court last year in the opening 2024 tournaments and the FIP Seniors World Padel Championships.

There is also curiosity about Swedish Max Bjorkman, son of former tennis player Jonas, the latter captain of the Swedish national padel team at the last FIP European Padel Championships in Cagliari. The men’s draw is headed by Portugueses Gustavo Nunes and Henrique Barbosa; the number 2 seeds are French Philemon Raichman and Julien Seurin, the latter last year’s winner paired with compatriot Manuel Vives. In the women’s draw, the number 1 seed are Dutchwomen Bo Luttikhuis and Marcella Koek, with British Catherine Rose and Aimee Gibson on the other side of the 14-pair main draw.