The United Padel Club recently marked a historic milestone for Maltese racket sports by successfully hosting the first-ever sanctioned international padel tournament on the island: the FIP Bronze Pragmatic Play Open Malta, held at Padel Malta.

The landmark event attracted a highly competitive international field, with 34 male couples and 16 female pairings registering to compete. The tournament was played over four days, delivering high-quality action and elite athleticism to local fans.

World-Class Talent on Maltese Soil

The tournament’s prestige was underscored by the high caliber of its participants. The men’s draw featured an entry from the world no. 94 player, who just a few years ago was ranked among the world’s top ten. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament featured the women’s world no. 49.

The event also welcomed a very high-profile guest: world-renowned padel star Martin Di Nenno, who traveled to Malta to watch his girlfriend compete in the women’s division.

To accommodate this elite field, the Padel Malta team transformed the club premises into a top-tier venue, ensuring players were provided with all possible comforts throughout the duration of the tournament. The effort did not go unnoticed; comments from players afterward indicated that the FIP Bronze Pragmatic Play Open Malta was one of the best tournaments they had ever competed in, with widespread praise directed at Padel Malta for their excellent organization.

Elite Finals Deliver Terrific Action

The men’s final was contested by the top-seeded Spanish/Argentine duo of Jose Solano Marmelejo and Ramiro Pereyra against the Italian/Spanish pair of Fino and Font. The first set was a grueling, hard-fought affair that pushed both teams to a tie-break. However, Solano Marmelejo and Pereyra managed to hold their nerve to claim the opening set. In the second set, the top seeds imposed their tactical superiority, cruising to a 6-1 victory to seal the match 2-0.

The women’s final similarly began as a tight contest. However, the Spanish favorites, Julia Polo Bautista and Marina Lobo, soon showed their class and immense experience. They seized control of the final against the Dutch/Portuguese pairing of Liza Groenveld and Constança Gorito, ultimately running away with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead

The closing prize ceremony was hosted by club owners Janika and Karl Wijkmark, who were supported by Marc Gingell Littlejohn, the president of the Malta Tennis and Padel Federation.

In a closing statement, the organizers expressed their immense gratitude to the partners who made the historic event possible, extending special thanks to main sponsor Pragmatic Play, alongside VisitMalta and Lidion Bank for their invaluable support.