Former world No.1s, world champions and rising stars to headline spectacular Sydney Harbour showcase in collaboration with Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation (FIP)
The world's best padel players are set to descend on one of the world's most iconic locations, with an international field featuring former world No.1s, world champions and rising stars confirmed for the inaugural Padel Invitational presented by UBS at the Sydney Opera House on 15-16 August.
Staged on a custom-built court on the Northern Broadwalk overlooking Sydney Harbour, the event will bring together some of the sport’s biggest names in a unique showcase delivered in collaboration with Premier Padel, the sport's official global professional tour, and the International Padel Federation (FIP).
Joining Australian sporting great Pat Rafter are eight international players from Spain, Argentina and Great Britain, bringing decades of championship success alongside some of the sport's most exciting emerging talent.
Among the headline names are padel legends Juan Martín Díaz (ARG) and Alejandra Salazar (ESP), two icons whose careers have helped define the modern era of padel.
Retired legend Díaz is the most decorated right-side player in padel’s history after spending 13 consecutive years as the world No.1. Salazar, meanwhile, continues to compete on the Premier Padel tour in what will be her final professional season. The most successful player in women's padel history, she has won 59 career titles and spent four seasons as world No.1 and claimed a record seven FIP World Championships with Spain.
"It is very special to be part of such an important moment for padel in Australia, particularly during my final season as a professional player,” Alejandra Salazar said. “Throughout my career, I have seen the sport grow enormously, and being able to play in such an iconic location shows just how far it has come. I hope this event inspires many more people across Australia and the world to discover padel and become part of its future."
They are joined by former world No.1 Maxi Sánchez (ARG), Martín Di Nenno (ARG), FIP No.11 and rising Spanish star Pablo García.
The women's field also features Marina Lobo (ESP), British No.1 Aimee Gibson and reigning Junior World Champion Mar Munuera, one of Spain's brightest emerging talents.
Premier Padel has played a central role in accelerating the professional game, taking the world’s leading male and female players to new audiences around the globe. FIP provides the international framework that connects national federations , rankings, development pathways and international competition. Together with Padel Australia they will help accelerate the sport’s growth and support the development of Australian players.
More than 38 million people now play padel across more than 170 countries, with participation expected to exceed 105 million by 2030, according to the FIP.
With the Olympic Games returning to Australia at Brisbane 2032, thisevent provides a high-profile platform to showcase the sport's athleticism, accessibility, gender balance and global appeal as FIP, Premier Padel and the broader padel community continue the push for future Olympic inclusion.
The Padel Invitational presented by UBS will feature:
Fans can also win the opportunity to play alongside Pat Rafter, Casey Dellacqua and top players on the stunning Sydney Opera House court by registering here.
The Padel Invitational is proudly presented by UBS, a leading global wealth manager and Switzerland’s premier universal bank.
The Padel Invitational presented by UBS is being delivered by Padel Australia and is designed to introduce more Australians to one of the world's fastest-growing sports.
Padel Invitational presented by UBS – Player biographies
ALEJANDRA SALAZAR (ESP)
FIP Ranking: #14 | Career-High Ranking: #1 | Career Titles: 59
Alejandra "Ale" Salazar is the most decorated player in the history of women's padel. Throughout her extraordinary career, she has won 59 professional titles and reached World No. 1 on 4 occasions (2009, 2016, 2021 and 2022), establishing herself as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
Salazar holds the record for the most FIP World Cup titles, having won seven world championships representing Spain (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024), more than any other player in the history of the competition.
Still competing at the highest level at the age of 40, Salazar has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2026 Premier Padel season to focus on new personal and professional goals. When she steps away from the sport in December 2026, she will leave behind the most successful career in women's padel history.
JUAN MARTÍN DÍAZ (ARG)
FIP Ranking: – (retired) | Career-High Ranking: #1 | Career Titles: 170
Juan Martín Díaz is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted players in the history of padel. A multiple-time World No. 1 and World Champion, he built a legacy on a style of play that combined flawless technique, exceptional anticipation and unmatched creativity. Few players have influenced the sport as profoundly.
In 2002, Díaz joined forces with Fernando Belasteguín to form what is widely considered the greatest and most dominant partnership in padel history. Together they remained World No. 1 for 13 consecutive seasons, won 115 professional titles as a pair, and went unbeaten for an astonishing one year and nine months – records that continue to stand among the most extraordinary feats the sport has ever witnessed.
MARTÍN DI NENNO (ARG)
FIP Ranking: #11 | Career-High Ranking: #3 | Career Titles: 16 | Premier Padel Titles: 4
Renowned for his consistency, tactical intelligence and exceptional defensive skills, Martin di Nenno is widely regarded as one of the finest right-side players of his generation. He has won 16 professional titles, including four Premier Padel trophies, two of them Major titles, and has twice been crowned FIP World Champion with Argentina, in 2022 and 2024. A cornerstone of the Argentine national team, Di Nenno has established himself as a regular contender at the sport's biggest events.
His career was derailed in 2016 when he survived a devastating car accident and was told by doctors he was unlikely to walk again. Defying expectations, and following a long period of rehabilitation, he made an inspiring comeback and returned to professional padel.
MAXI SÁNCHEZ (ARG)
FIP Ranking: #67 | Career-High Ranking: #1 | Career Titles: 22
Nicknamed "El Tiburón" ("The Shark") for his courage and relentless competitiveness on court, Maxi Sánchez reached the world No. 1 ranking in 2018. He has won more than 20 professional titles and multiple FIP World Championships with the Argentine national team, helping cement Argentina's status as one of the sport's global powerhouses.
A former partner of legends such as Juan Martín Díaz and Sanyo Gutiérrez, Maxi has played a major role in the transformation of padel from a niche sport into a global professional game. Renowned for his tactical intelligence, defensive consistency, athleticism, and fearless attacking style, he has established himself as one of the most respected and accomplished players of his generation.
MARINA LOBO (ESP)
FIP Ranking: #53 | Career-High Ranking: #32 | Career Titles: 3
Marina Lobo is one of the brightest emerging talents in professional padel. A champion of three CUPRA FIP Tour events (Cordenons, Pembroke, and Burriana), she has established herself as a regular competitor on the Premier Padel Tour.
Marina first gained international recognition as a junior, winning the FIP World Padel Championships with the Spanish National Team. Since turning professional, she has continued her rapid progression, competing around the world against the sport's top players and cementing her place among the most promising athletes of her generation.
AIMEE GIBSON (GBR)
FIP Ranking: #95 | Career-High Ranking: #81 | Career Titles: 9
Aimee Gibson is the British No. 1 in professional padel and one of the leading figures behind the sport's rapid growth across the UK, and winning nine CUPRA FIP Tour titles across multiple categories, including two prestigious championships in Australia: the FIP Silver Australian Open in Sydney and the FIP Silver Melbourne Padel Open, both in January 2025.
Aimee's rise through the rankings has coincided with an unprecedented boom for the sport in the UK, where participation has grown from just 15,000 players in 2019 to more than one million in 2026, supported by more than 1,800 courts across over 550 clubs.
PABLO GARCÍA (ESP)
FIP Ranking: #39 | Career-High Ranking: #34 | Career Titles: 3
Pablo García is one of the brightest prospects in Spanish padel and one of the sport's most exciting young talents on the international stage, Garcia has already claimed three CUPRA FIP Tour Silver titles.
In 2023, García made history by winning the silver medal at the European Games in Kraków, competing in the first-ever padel final in the history of the Games, where the sport made its official debut. He is also a three-time Spanish champion, a testament to his consistency and ability to perform at the highest level.
MAR MUNERA (ESP)
FIP Ranking: #187 | Career-High Ranking: #187
Mar Munera is the reigning Junior World Champion and widely regarded as one of the sport's top emerging prospects, with the potential to contend for Olympic selection should padel be included in future Games.
Representing the next generation of Spanish padel, she is steadily establishing herself as one of the most exciting young prospects in the sport.
“This event represents an important milestone for the development of padel in Australia and across Oceania,” Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation, said.
“Bringing together great champions, leading Premier Padel players and talent from the FIP pathway demonstrates the strength and depth of our global sporting ecosystem. Together with Premier Padel and Padel Australia, we are creating new opportunities for the sport to grow. This event will showcase the sport on an iconic stage and help build further momentum for padel in the country as Australia looks ahead to Brisbane 2032.”
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