With only the Mexico Major and the Cupra FIP Finals remaining, the race for the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona is reaching its climax. The prestigious event, reserved for the top 16 men and top 16 women of the season, will take place from December 8 to 14 at the Palau St. Jordi. While most spots are already secured, a few positions remain open, making the upcoming tournaments decisive.
Men’s race for the last spot
Fifteen players are already certain of their place: Coello, Tapia, Galán, Chingotto, Stupaczuk, Lebron, Nieto, Yanguas, Navarro, Bergamini, Di Nenno, Augsburger, Sanz, Guerrero, and Gonzalez. The latter two secured qualification thanks to their victory at the FIP Platinum in Veracruz.
The final spot is currently held by Leal, who sits in 16th place with 3395 points. Juan Tello, ranked 17th with 3172 points, is his closest challenger. For Tello to surpass Leal at the Mexico Major, he must reach at least the quarterfinals, which would require defeating Chingotto and Galán in the round of 16—a daunting task. If unsuccessful, his last chance would be the Cupra FIP Finals in Shanghai, though even a victory there might not guarantee qualification.
Edu Alonso (18th with 2782 points) and Tolito Aguirre (19th with 2712) remain mathematically in contention, but their chances are slim given the significant gap. For players ranked 20th and below, such as Alex Ruiz and Gonza Alfonso, qualification is no longer possible.
Women’s battle for the final places
On the women’s side, 14 players are virtually assured of qualification: Brea, Triay, Josemaria, Sanchez, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Araujo, Ustero, Ortega, Icardo, Salazar, Alonso, Jensen, and the young Martina Calvo, who holds a comfortable advantage in 14th place.
The fight for the last two spots involves six players. Aranzazu Osoro, fresh off her triumph at the FIP Platinum Veracruz, now has 3180 points, just 315 behind Marina Guinart (3495) and 470 behind Veronica Virseda (3650). Osoro, along with Victoria Iglesias (3105 points) and the young duo Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga (3040 points), must reach at least the semifinals in Mexico to have a chance of overtaking Guinart or Virseda.
Given the current standings, Guinart and Virseda remain strong favorites to secure the final two places, while the others will need extraordinary performances to change the outcome.
Anticipation for the Finals
The Barcelona Finals promise to be a showcase of the best talent in padel, with the top 32 players of the season competing for glory. The Mexico Major and the Cupra FIP Finals will determine the last names on the list, ensuring that the road to Barcelona remains filled with drama and high stakes.
