World’s leading padel stars will be seen in action in the Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022, the first leg of the recently-announced Category 1 events of the Premier Padel which begins today at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. The event, which will conclude on April 2, carries a record prize-money of $575,000.
The world No.1 pair of Juan Lebron Chincoa and Alejandro Galan Romo of Spain will be headlining a star cast of players that include Francisco Navarro (Spain)/ Martin Di Nenno (Argentina), Alejandro Ruiz Granados (Spain)/ Franco Stupaczuk (Argentina) and Federico Chingotto (Argentina)/Juan Tello (Argentina) and Pablo Jose Mongelo De Lima (Brazil)/Maximilano Sanchez Aguero (Argentina), among others. Qatar’s Mohamed Saadon al-Kuwari will pair with Spain’s Ignacio Gonzalez Gadea.
Meanwhile, records have already been broken for the Qatar Major with 123 pairs registering, including players from 19 different countries. Until now, the previous registration record for an international padel tournament had been a maximum of 50 pairs. A total of 56 pairs will eventually be contesting in the main draw, with 44 getting automatic qualification via rankings, eight pairs will secure their entry through the qualifiers, while four wildcard entrants will complete the final list. In addition to the prize money, the winning pair will earn 2000 ranking points while the finalist garner 1200 points and the semi-finalists 750 points.
Doha was the spectacular host city of the World Padel Championship in November last year, in what was widely regarded as the most dazzling and successful padel tournament ever, with state-of-the-art facilities, the overall professionalism of tournament and the keen focus on player welfare being unparalleled in padel.
Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation Secretary-General Tareq Zainal said: “We are very delighted with the massive interest shown by the world’s top players to participate in the Doha event, the maiden edition of the Category 1 events of the Tour. Qatar is committed to promoting padel globally and making it among the world’s most-loved sports, and we are not going to rest on our oars as we continue to strive to achieve this.”
The Premier Padel tour, the official new global padel tour of the International Padel Federation (FIP), is based on a new global calendar of international and national competitions – including four top category “Major” tournaments – which will take place in sensational venues around the world.
Players compete in the qualification tournament for the Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex yesterday.