Premier Padel Pretoria P1 kicks off historic first tournament in South Africa

The Premier Padel Pretoria P1 began on July 26 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, marking the first Premier Padel event ever staged in South Africa and Sub‑Saharan Africa. The indoor tournament runs until August 2, offers €479,068 in prize money and 1,000 ranking points, and is played at an altitude of 1,339 m, which reduces air density and makes the ball travel faster and bounce higher.

Organisers selected the Bullpadel Premium Pro High‑Altitude ball, a specially pressurised sphere designed for high‑altitude venues, to offset the thinner air. World‑number‑one pair Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia entered as defending champions seeking a sixth consecutive P1 title, while other top teams such as Gonzalo Alfonso/Tino Libaak and the local duo Adam van Hart with Basma Ali (the 15‑year‑old youngest competitor) also featured. South African wildcard entries Linge Steenkamp and Zoë Kruger earned spots in the main draw through domestic qualifying.

The event includes a fan village, live entertainment and broadcasting on ESPN (regional) and Red Bull TV (global).