Premier Padel P1 Riyadh 2026: A promising start to the season!

A month ago, the eyes of the padel world were on Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Season Padel P1. This opening tournament of the 2026 season lived up to expectations: spectacular play, surprises and confirmation of the circuit's top players' calibre.

If you missed the finals or want to relive the key moments, here is our analysis of the year's first major event.

The favourites triumph: Coello and Tapia call the shots

On the men's side, the question on everyone's lips was: who could dethrone the world number ones? Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the pairing of Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia dominated the competition.

In a high-intensity final, they showed impressive mental resilience and firepower. What stands out about this pairing is their ability to cut their opponents' reaction time. They won the final in just 1 hour 5 minutes against the number two pairing, Chingotto/Galan.

One key statistic emerged from the tournament: dominance at the net, with over 70% of points won during attacking phases.

Women's draw: Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaría, queens of Riyadh

On the women's side, the favourites came out on top, but not without a fight. Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaría confirmed their status as the dominant forces on the circuit.

The way Ari's surgical precision complemented Paula's explosiveness worked wonders on the fast courts of Riyadh. The tournament also saw the emergence of promising new pairings that could shake up the top of the draw throughout the 2026 season.

Tactical analysis: Ultra-fast playing conditions

Why did smashes "fly off the court" so often in Riyadh? The weather conditions and the city's altitude played a major role:

1. Ball speed: The hot, dry air made the ball extremely lively, favouring powerful players.

2. Equipment choices: Many players opted for harder foam cores to maintain control despite the speed of play.

3. The importance of the lob: With such a fast ball, a precisely placed lob was the only effective weapon for dislodging attackers at the net.

The tournament's surprises and disappointments

Things did not go to plan for some of the seeded players.

• Several pairs who came through qualifying reached the quarter-finals, showing that the overall standard in Premier Padel is becoming more competitive month by month.

• French player Léa Godallier and her Italian partner Giorgia Marchetti also shone, reaching the last 16!

The Riyadh tournament was just the opening chapter of a year that promises to be epic. It set the stage for the battle for the world's top spot:

• Equipment is evolving: Brands used Riyadh to unveil their new models (such as Momo Gonzalez's Wilson Endure range), showing that technical innovation is central to performance.

• Fitness makes the difference: With such a packed schedule, recovery and athletic preparation have become as important as technical ability.