We’ve all had this discussion court-side after a match with friends. We watch highlights of Coello and Tapia’s achievements, imagine ourselves on the central court of the Paris Major at Roland-Garros, and ask the fateful question: “Realistically, what would it take for us to be able to sign up?”
While the Premier Padel circuit has professionalized the sport at lightning speed, the entry points for players are now governed by an unforgiving system. Gone are the days when one could hope for a “lucky” entry into major tournaments. Today, it’s all about mathematics, rankings, and strategy.
So, how do you go from the local club to the bright lights of P1 or Major tournaments? Here are the precise criteria and mandatory steps to hope to see your name in the draw.
The Ultimate Key: The FIP Ranking
This is the number one rule, the one that takes precedence over everything else. To participate in a Premier Padel tournament, your FIP (International Padel Federation) ranking is your identity card. Since the unification of the circuits, the World Padel Tour ranking has disappeared, making way for a single, global ranking.
To hope to enter a draw, it’s not enough to be good; you need points. And that’s where the uphill battle begins. You can’t just show up directly in Premier Padel without having proven yourself in the lower divisions.
The path to the top is structured as follows:
- FIP Bronze: This is where it all begins. These are the “base” tournaments that allow you to scrape together your very first points. They are open to many more people, but the level is already very high.
- FIP Silver and FIP Gold: The upper tier. Here, you’ll already encounter players hovering around the world’s Top 100.
- FIP Platinum: The stepping stone to Premier Padel. Winning here earns big points that can propel you towards qualification for major tournaments.
The “Cut” Concept: The Painful Calculation
Once you have points, how do you know if you’ll get into the tournament? That’s the principle of the “Cut”.
Registration is always done by pair. The organization takes player A’s FIP points and adds them to player B’s points. This gives a total for the team. All registered pairs are then ranked in descending order of points.
- The Main Draw: Generally reserved for the best global pairs (for example, the top 48 teams registered for a Major).
- Qualifications (Previas): The next teams in the ranking enter the qualifying rounds. It’s a jungle where you have to win 2 or 3 matches against hungry competitors to hope to join the stars.
- The Waiting List: If your total points are too low, you remain on the sidelines, hoping for a withdrawal from a higher-ranked team.
That’s why players are often seen strategically changing partners: an 80th-ranked player might look for a 40th-ranked partner just to have enough cumulative points to “make the Cut”.
Wild Cards: The Coveted Invitation
There is an exception to the tyranny of points: the famous Wild Card (WC).
In each Premier Padel tournament, a few spots (generally 2 to 4 pairs) are reserved at the organizers’ discretion. These invitations are worth their weight in gold because they allow players to bypass qualifications or enter a tournament they could never have hoped to compete in with their points alone.
Who gets these Wild Cards?
- Local players: If the tournament is in Brussels, Bordeaux, or Rome, the organizers will prioritize the best national pairs from the host country to attract the local audience.
- Young prospects: Sometimes, very promising but still low-ranked pairs receive a boost.
- Legends returning from injury: A big name who has dropped in the rankings might be invited for the prestige of the tournament.
Tournament Category Specifics
All Premier Padel tournaments are not equally selective. The circuit is divided into three main categories, and the ‘Cut’ criteria vary enormously:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Major | The Holy Grail (4 per year). Access difficulty: Extreme. Draw of 48 pairs. You virtually need to be in the world’s Top 100 to even hope for qualification. |
| P1 | High level. Access difficulty: Very High. Draw of 40 to 48 pairs. The concentration of Top 50 players is highest here. |
| P2 | “Entry-level”. Access difficulty: High but accessible. Draw of 28 to 32 pairs. This is often where players ranked between 60th and 150th have the best chance to break through. |
The Invisible Criterion: Professionalism
Beyond points and rules, there’s a financial and logistical criterion. Participating in the Premier Padel circuit requires a professional structure. Tournament registration is paid (though modest for pros), but it’s the ancillary costs that act as a real filter.
Traveling from Venezuela to Saudi Arabia, paying for hotels, coaches, physios… If you don’t have solid sponsors, even with the necessary points, it’s impossible to keep up with the relentless pace of the calendar. That’s why many very good players remain stuck in FIP tournaments, lacking the budget to attempt the full-time Premier Padel adventure.
In Summary: A Very Closed Circle
To play in Premier Padel in 2025, there’s no secret. You have to start by scouring the small FIP Bronze tournaments across Europe, accumulate points, find a loyal (and well-ranked!) partner, and climb the ranks one by one.
It’s a long and costly path, but it’s the price to pay to perhaps one day have the honor of being smashed on by Arturo Coello live on television.
Key takeaways
- Access to Premier Padel is primarily through the FIP ranking, which serves as the entry reference.
- The “Cut” is based on the sum of the FIP points of both players in a pair.
- The “normal” path goes through the Cupra FIP Tour (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) before aiming for Premier Padel qualifications.
- Wild cards exist, but they remain rare and highly coveted.
- Beyond skill level, budget (travel, coaching, logistics) is often the real filter.
