Reserve Cup Miami 2026: Unprecedented Match and Series Launch

Miami, three days to set the stage for a new series

There are tournaments that serve to regain momentum. And then there are those that seek to change the conversation. The Reserve Cup Miami 2026 clearly belongs to the second category: a short format, a stage designed for spectacle, and a stated ambition to transform the event into an international fixture via the Reserve Cup Series.

The setting is already a selling point: Reserve Miami Seaplane (1000 MacArthur Causeway), a site that embraces its ‘premium’ DNA by the water. But the sporting interest is not limited to the setting. The announced player list immediately gets everyone’s approval: Agustín Tapia, Arturo Coello, Alejandro Galán, Federico Chingotto, Franco Stupaczuk, Mike Yanguas, Jon Sanz, Lucas Bergamini, Fran Guerrero, Javi Leal, Javi Garrido and Gonza Alfonso.

Coello/Chingotto vs Galán/Tapia: the matchup you won’t see anywhere else

The beating heart of this edition is a duel scheduled as the ‘moment’ of the week: Arturo Coello partnered with Federico Chingotto against Alejandro Galán and Agustín Tapia. On the circuit, fans are used to a simple logic: established pairs, automatisms, hierarchy, and a fairly stable game understanding.

Here, the mold is deliberately broken: the four best (or, at the very least, four absolute top players) find themselves on the same court… but with partners who shift the natural balance of power. The result: the match is not just exciting, it becomes unpredictable.

The tactical twist: when positions are no longer certainties

What makes the matchup even more intriguing is the announced idea of playing with positions. In modern padel, the position is not a minor detail: it dictates the diagonals, impact zones, the type of volleys, lob management, and how to ‘lock down’ the net.

Putting Tapia on the right side (drive) and shifting Chingotto to the other side is like opening an open-air laboratory. The rallies should change in texture:

• More construction on the right side: more low balls, variations, and patience before the decisive shot.
• Less ‘automatic’ diagonals: coverage reflexes and zone priorities need to be rewritten.
• Different pressure at the net: who takes priority on high volleys? Who is willing to let a ball go that is ‘usually theirs’?

Why it’s so interesting… even in pre-season

Because this type of match often reveals what the ranking doesn’t show: adaptability. The ability to defend out of rhythm, to choose between bandeja and vibora depending on the wind and ball speed, to alternate chiquita and acceleration to disorganize the opponent. In short: we don’t just watch who wins the point, we observe how the point is made.

A lineup that guarantees rhythm with every rotation

Beyond the main matchup, the interest also lies in the depth of the field. Stupaczuk and Yanguas bring a very ‘tournament-like’ intensity, Jon Sanz and Bergamini can swing a match based on the quality of their first volley, while Leal, Garrido, Guerrero, or Alfonso bring explosive profiles, capable of chaining together smashes, bajadas, and returns off the glass. For the public, it’s the promise of a succession of matches without a drop in tension.

Reserve Cup Series: Miami kicks off, Marbella already in focus

The novelty for 2026 is this deliberate shift towards a multi-destination series. The organization speaks of an evolved format, with the best players committed to several stages to aim for one of the largest prize pools announced in event padel.

In this nascent calendar, a date is already circulating persistently: a return to Marbella from June 18 to 20, 2026, proof that the project is seeking a European foothold in addition to its American base. In other words: Miami is no longer an ‘interlude,’ but a starting point.

What it changes for fans (and what to watch out for)

This Reserve Cup Miami 2026 can be viewed on two levels. On one hand, an unapologetic show, designed to appeal beyond the inner circle. On the other, a true observation ground: when pairs are mixed, tactical choices, communication, and management of zones under pressure are exposed.

If you’re looking for clues from the first games, here are the most telling signs:

• The battle at the net: who imposes their presence in the volley and locks down the diagonal?
• Lob management against Coello: quality of high balls, height and depth, otherwise immediate punishment.
• Defense-attack transitions: ability to convert a return into a net position.
• Routines between points: for ‘new’ duos, mental adjustment is as important as physical skill.

Practical Information: Reserve Cup Miami 2026

Key takeaways

• Miami kicks off the Reserve Cup Series 2026 over three days, from January 22 to 24.
• The Coello/Chingotto vs Galán/Tapia matchup promises a real clash of styles, amplified by playing with positions.
• The lineup is strong: no ‘filler matches,’ just rhythm from the first to the last rally.
• The series is going international: Miami launches the season, Marbella is already announced as a major stage.

Useful links

• Reserve Cup: Official Website (dates, players, ticketing)
• FIP: International Padel Federation
• Premier Padel: Official Circuit (context)