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If you follow padel closely, you may have paid attention to the latest European Padel Championship which took place in July 2024, one of the most exciting competitions on the continent.
It brings together the best European national teams, which compete in a format similar to other major sporting events, such as tennis's Davis Cup. Organised every two years, this padel tournament is sanctioned by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and serves as a showcase for European talent in this fast-growing sport.
How the European Padel Championship works
The European Padel Championship is one of the most prestigious competitions on the continent, bringing together the best national teams. Countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Belgium regularly take part in this event. Organised by the International Padel Federation (FIP), this tournament is played under a competition format featuring group stages, followed by knockout stages. Matches are played as the best of three sets, with a tie-break at 6 games all in each set, as in traditional competitions.
One of the key features of this championship is the use of the official Bullpadel Next padel ball, specifically designed for international competitions, thus guaranteeing optimal performance in terms of bounce and durability.
The European Padel Championship is divided into two main categories: men's and women's national teams. Each nation enters a squad made up of several pairs of players who compete in direct knockout ties. The team that wins the most matches in each tie progresses in the tournament.
Participants are selected by their respective federations based on their performance and their national and international padel ranking. Unlike the World Padel Tour, where competitions focus on professional pairs throughout the year, the European Championship is based on a national team format.
Championship rules and other specifics
The tournament follows specific rules, slightly different from those found in standard competitions, such as the World Padel Tour. Firstly, it is not uncommon for local padel umpires to be appointed to supervise matches, whereas the WPT employs a panel of professional umpires all year round.
Rules regarding player selection vary from country to country, but each team must generally include players with proven experience in major national or international padel tournaments.
Differences with Premier Padel
Although Premier Padel and the European Padel Championship are among the most followed competitions in the padel world, they differ in several ways:
- Tournament format: Premier Padel is a "tour" style competition, with stages throughout the year, whereas the European Championship takes place over one week and is based on a team competition.
- Players: Premier Padel welcomes the best pairs in the world, formed regardless of nationality, whereas the European Championship is restricted to national teams.
- Organisation: Premier Padel tournaments are organised by the private WPT federation, whereas the European Championship is held under the aegis of the International Padel Federation (FIP), which follows different criteria for organising a padel tournament.
A look back at the latest editions of the European Padel Championship
Padel has surged in popularity across Europe over recent years, particularly in Spain, France, Italy, and Sweden. The European Padel Championship reflects this rise, attracting a broader audience each year. European players, who once rarely featured among the world elite, are beginning to make their mark, thanks in particular to competitions like this championship.
Previous editions and Spanish dominance
Historically, Spain has dominated the European Padel Championships, both in the men's and women's events. This supremacy is explained by the fact that padel is an extremely popular sport in Spain, with the infrastructure and resources allowing Spanish players to train in the best conditions.
However, other countries, such as Italy, France, and Portugal, are beginning to emerge and challenge this dominance, boosting the competitiveness of the tournament. Each edition of the championship is an opportunity for these countries to demonstrate their progress.
The 2024 European Padel Championship and the results of the French team
During the 2024 European Padel Championship, which took place from 22 to 27 July in Cagliari, Sardinia, the French team made a strong impression. The women secured a bronze medal after a remarkable performance against Portugal, while the men's team narrowly missed out on the podium.
Led by Robin Haziza, the French women's team managed to overcome the pressure, securing a bronze medal by beating Portugal in a decisive match. In contrast, the men's team, led by Pablo Ayma, suffered a frustrating defeat against Portugal in the third-place play-off, but showed great promise for the future.
In conclusion, the European Padel Championship continues to strengthen the sport's position on the European stage, with a steadily rising level of competition. Nations like Spain, Italy and France still dominate the field, but the growing strength of other countries promises to make future editions even more thrilling.
For the French team, the women's bronze medal and the encouraging performances of the men point to a promising future, not only for this championship, but also for future international competitions.
