South Africa’s biggest week in padel has arrived as the Premier Padel Pretoria P1 officially gets underway today at SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria.
Running from July 26 to August 2, the tournament is the first Premier Padel event to be staged in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
It brings the world’s top-ranked players to Pretoria while giving the country’s leading athletes an opportunity to compete for valuable FIP ranking points on home soil.
Ahead of the opening matches, tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.
Following last month’s qualifying event, Pretoria Premier Padel P1 wildcard winners Linge Steenkamp and Zoë Kruger will lead South Africa’s women’s challenge after securing direct entry into the main draw.
They are joined by local men’s pairs Richard Ashforth and Luan Krige, Adam van Harte and Warren Kuhn, and Egmond van Heerden and Jason Blakey-Milner, who also earned places through the domestic qualification pathway.
“Hosting the first Premier Padel tournament in South Africa is a huge honour for us, both as players and as a country,” South African player Adam van Harte told NOWinSA during the tournament media briefing.
“It’s going to be an incredible spectacle for everyone who comes to watch, and it’s another step towards putting South Africa on the world padel map and showing that we belong at this level.”
Another player to watch is 15-year-old Basma Ali, the youngest competitor in the tournament and one of South Africa’s brightest emerging padel talents.
What to expect this week
Today’s play begins with the qualifying rounds before the main draw starts on Monday evening, July 27.
The tournament then progresses through the Round of 16, quarter-finals on July 31, semi-finals on 1 August, before the women’s and men’s finals on August 2.
Away from the courts, spectators can enjoy a dedicated fan village with interactive activities, food vendors and live entertainment.
Hosts Jonathan Boynton-Lee and Lebo Mokoena will lead the entertainment programme alongside DJ Nick Explicit, tournament mascot Moyà and the Vibe Squad.
Finals weekend will also feature performances by DJ Maphorisa, Timo ODV, Chrizz Beatz and the Mzansi Youth Choir.
Fans unable to attend can watch the main draw live on ESPN across Sub-Saharan Africa from July 27, while Red Bull TV will stream the tournament globally from July 31.
For more fixtures, results and breaking updates throughout the tournament, visit the NOWinSA SportsDesk.
