The best padel in the world is back after the summer break, and it has returned in Madrid, unofficially the world capital of professional padel. The imposing Movistar Arena came alive this Tuesday for the opening round of the Comunidad de Madrid Premier Padel P1 2026 — with four matches going to a third-set tie-break — and everything is now ready for the world’s top male players and the legendary Alejandra Salazar to take to the court on Wednesday. The former world No. 1, who will retire at the age of 40 at the end of the season, is playing the final professional tournament of her career in her hometown.
FOUR TIE-BREAK VICTORIES TO KICK THINGS OFF
The entire first round (Round of 64) of the men’s draw was completed on Tuesday, with as many as four matches decided in a third-set tie-break. Álvaro Meléndez and José Luis González produced the tournament’s first upset by defeating Chozas-De Pascual 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5), while Andrés Fernández Lancha and Denis Perino did likewise, eliminating David Gala and Enzo Jensen 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).
The Portuguese brothers Miguel and Nuno Deus also sealed their victory in a tie-break, in a match that became particularly complicated against García-Del Pico (6-0, 6-7(5), 7-6(2)). Nacho Piotto and Juani Rubini also prevailed in a deciding tie-break, with the Argentine pair winning an exciting clash against Ayats-Chamero 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(10).
Among the other results from Tuesday, Gonza Alfonso and Tino Libaak produced a convincing performance against Pol Hernández and Guille Collado (6-3, 6-4), while Frenchman Guichard and Belgian Geens defeated Ruiz-Ortega in two tie-breaks (7-6(5), 7-6(5)).
THE FIRST SEEDS DELIVER AHEAD OF SALAZAR’S DEBUT
In the women’s draw, the first half of the Round of 32 was played on Tuesday, with sixth seeds Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen delivering in emphatic fashion: a 6-1, 6-0 victory in just 48 minutes against Pérez-Caparrós. Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga also secured a convincing win (6-2, 6-1 vs Godallier-Valenzuela), as did Jana Montes and Marta Barrera (6-2, 6-1 vs Arellano-Lobo) and Alix Collombon and Ksenia Sharifova (6-3, 6-0 vs Mesa-Las Heras).
Continuing in the same vein, Noa Cánovas and Laia Rodríguez won in two sets (6-3, 7-6(2)) against Aguilar-Escacena), as did seventh seeds Marina Guinart and Alejandra Alonso (6-3, 6-4 vs Fassio-López).
The remaining seeded pairs, with the exception of the top four, make their debuts on Wednesday. Madrid native Marta Ortega and Portugal’s Sofia Araújo (#5) take on Martínez-Luján, while eighth seeds Aranza Osoro and local idol Alejandra Salazar open proceedings on Centre Court at 9:00 a.m. local time against Martínez-Manquillo. The Movistar Arena will be eagerly awaiting the legendary Salazar, who will be playing the final professional tournament of her career in her native Madrid.
THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD TAKE TO THE COURT
With Alejandra Salazar stealing much of the spotlight, the men’s draw is also generating huge anticipation as the world’s best male players return to action following the summer break. Among them are world No. 1s Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, who ended the first half of the season by lifting the London P1 title and begin their Madrid campaign against Mouriño-Quílez. Their closest challengers, Alejandro Galán and Fede Chingotto (#2), start their campaign against Patiniotis-García, while third seeds Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger — champions in Madrid in 2025 — face Hernández-Martínez.
Another major attraction will be seeing how the #4 and #5 seeds begin their Premier Padel campaigns after meeting in the final of the FIP Gold Belgrade on August 30, where Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz came out on top against Mike Yanguas and Coki Nieto. Stupaczuk and Sanz make their Premier Padel debut against Cabeza-González San Martín, while Madrid native Nieto and Yanguas face Piotto-Rubini.
