The Kuwait Premier Padel Major Powered by BNK - the third Major of the 2026 season - is officially underway. Following the qualifying rounds, the Men’s Main Draw got underway on Sunday, with second seeds Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto forced to withdraw at the last minute due to an injury to Galán.

Qualifying UNDERDOGS PRODUCE Epic Comebacks

Adam Axelsson - Mario Ortega, who reached the main draw after coming through qualifying, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day by eliminating Maxi Sanchez - Sanyo Gutierrez (#17).

After dropping the opening set 6-4, they maintained their level in the second set and edged a nail-biting tie-break 9-7 before completing the comeback with a 6-3 deciding set. They sealed victory in two hours and 24 minutes to set up a Round of 32 clash with Maxi Arce - Juan Tello (#9), who have high hopes for this tournament as they pursue their main objective: qualifying for the Finals.

The victory saw Axelsson, the powerful 2.00-metre Swedish player, equal his best-ever result at a Major. He had failed to progress through qualifying at these events in both 2025 and 2026, and it was not until the 2024 Mexico Major that he had last competed in the Round of 32. On Tuesday, he will look to continue taking Swedish padel to new heights on Tour.

Ortega - Axelsson were not the only team from qualifying to complete a comeback and advance to the next round. Juan Cruz Belluati - Martin Abud did the same in the longest match of the day, defeating Javier Martínez - Luis Hernández (#25) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 after two hours and 43 minutes.

It was the first time Abud had won a match in the main draw of a Major, while Paraguayan padel will have two representatives in the next round following compatriot Mariano González’s victory alongside Spaniard Curro Cabeza in another of the day’s matches. As a reward, Abud - Belluati will look to make Juan Lebron - Leo Augsburger (#3) work hard in their debut on Tuesday.

Another team from qualifying, Nacho Moragues - Timeo Fonteny, also cleared their first hurdle in the main draw. They defeated Antonio Fernandez - Alvaro Cepero (#31) 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and six minutes and will now face Tino Libaak - Gonza Alfonso (#12), who arrive in strong form after reaching the quarter-finals at the last three Tour events.

Winning Debuts for the New PAIRS

Meanwhile, as many as four teams beginning new sporting projects at the Kuwait Major made winning debuts.

Victor Ruiz - Facundo Lopez (#29) defeated another new team like Tolito Aguirre - Pablo Lijo (#19) in three sets, 7-5, 0-6, 6-2. Flavio Abbate - Franco Dal Bianco (#34) also came through, beating Rama Valenzuela - Xisco Gil (#33) 6-3, 6-1 after the latter reached the Round of 16 at the Milano P1.

Andres Fernandez - Jose Diestro (#28) also completed a comeback, defeating newly formed team Alonso Rodriguez - Pablo Garcia (#22) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. Juan Zamora - Marc Sintes, meanwhile, spoiled the debut of Mario Del Castillo - Ignacio Vilariño (#37) with a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Time for the Women’s Draw and Some Star Men’s Teams

The women’s main draw and several of the Tour’s top men’s teams will get underway in Kuwait on Monday from 12:00 (GMT+3), with some of the sport’s biggest names making their debuts.

Several new teams will start competing together, including Marina Lobo - Noa Canovas (#18) and Lea Godallier - Lucia Peralta (#28). Germany’s No. 1 player, Victoria Kurz, will also begin her campaign alongside Portugal’s Ana Catarina Nogueira, while Great Britain’s highest-ranked player in the FIP Ranking, Aimee Gibson, will use an individual Lucky Loser spot to make her first appearance in a Major main draw alongside Spaniard Carla Fernandez.

Meanwhile, FIP Platinum Lyon, Rotterdam P2 and Germany P2 finalists Franco Stupaczuk - Jon Sanz (#4) will open the day against Diestro - Fernandez. Paquito Navarro - Martin Di Nenno (#5) will also make their debuts against Alvaro Montiel - Daniel Santigosa (#27), while Pretoria P1 runners-up Fran Guerrero - Javi Leal (#7) will face Fede Mouriño - Marc Quílez (#32). In addition, The Tour’s No. 8 team, Momo Gonzalez - Lucas Campagnolo, will take on Sintes - Zamora.