We’ve all had this discussion by the court after a friendly match. We watch a recap of Coello and Tapia’s exploits, we imagine ourselves on the center court of the Paris Major at Roland-Garros, and we ask the fateful question: “Realistically, what would it take for us 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 implacable mechanism. Gone are the days when one could hope for a “lucky” entry into major tournaments. Today, it’s all about mathematics, ranking, 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 main draw.
The absolute “Open Sesame”: 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 ranking (International Padel Federation) 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 main 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 earn your very first points. They are open to many more people, but the level is already very high.
- FIP Silver and FIP Gold: The next level up. Here, you’ll already find players hovering around the world’s Top 100.
- FIP Platinum: The stepping stone to Premier Padel. Winning here earns significant points that can propel you towards qualifying 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 the number of FIP points of player A and adds it to the number of points of player B. 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 pairs worldwide (for example, the top 48 registered teams in a Major).
- The Qualifying (Previas): The next teams in the ranking enter the qualifying stages. 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 at the door, 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’s 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 golden because they allow you to avoid qualifying or to enter a tournament you could never have hoped to compete in with your points alone.
Who gets these Wild Cards?
- Local players: If the tournament is in Brussels, Bordeaux, or Rome, 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 back from injury: A big name who has dropped in the ranking may be invited for the prestige of the tournament.
Specifics according to tournament category
Not all Premier Padel tournaments are equally selective. The circuit is divided into three main categories, and the “Cut” criteria vary enormously:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Major | The Holy Grail (4 per year). Access difficulty: Extreme. 48-pair draw. You practically need to be in the world’s Top 100 to hope for qualifying. |
| P1 | High level. Access difficulty: Very High. Main draw of 40 to 48 pairs. The density of Top 50 players is maximal here. |
| P2 | “Entry” level. Access difficulty: High but accessible. Main 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 the hotel, the coach, the physio… If you don’t have strong 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 on FIP tournaments, due to a lack of budget to attempt the full-time Premier Padel adventure.
In recap: 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 the two players in a pair.
- The “normal” path goes through the Cupra FIP Tour (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) before aiming for Premier Padel qualifying.
- Wild cards exist, but they remain rare and highly coveted.
- Beyond the skill level, the budget (travel, coaching, logistics) is often the real filter.
