The International Paddle Federation (FIP), the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) and Sport E Salute (the sports agency of the Italian Government) announced that Italy will host a Premier Padel Major in May as part of a new multi-year tournament deal. The Padel Premier is the official world padel tour, governed by the FIP and backed by the Professional Padel Association (PPA) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).
The annual category one tournament, to be known as the Premier Padel Major of Italy, will take place in the historic Foro Italico in Rome of the May 23 to 29, 2022. Playoffs will take place on May 21 and 22, with the main draw starting at its conclusion. The Premier Padel Major of Italy completes the list of four ‘Majors’ of the new Premier Padel circuit in 2022, namely: Italy, France, Mexico and Qatar. The Premier Padel Major of Italy will offer 2,000 ranking points to playersas well as a record prize money, in line with all the ‘Majors’ of the new Premier Padel Tour.
Bye Italy ? @federtennis
?? ITALY PREMIER PADEL MAJOR ??
? MAY 21-29
?Foro Italico, Rome @federtennis @SporteSaluteSpA @padelfip @ProPadelAssoc https://t.co/DOVniZ69np
– Premier Padel (@premierpadel) April 22, 2022
Launched earlier this year, Premier Padel will host at least ten (10) new tournaments in 2022 – including four category one ‘Major’ events. The first ‘major’- the Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022 – took place in Doha in March. With him Premier Padel Major of Italy in May, the other category one tournaments are the Premier Padel Major in Paris at Roland Garros Stadium which will take place from July 11 to July 17, and the Premier Padel Major of Mexico at Club Sonoma in Monterrey (Mexico) from November 28 to December 4. In recent weeks, the first category two tournament has also been announced, the Premier Padel P1 of Argentinawhich will take place from August 8 to 14.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, President of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)explained: “This is another transcendental moment for the development of padel within the framework of the new Premier Padel Tour, both in Europe and worldwide. Italy is a proud and passionate nation for the sport and Rome offers another fantastic place for the professional players showcase their talent on the world stage.”
Valentina Vezzali, Undersecretary for Sports of the Italian Governmentdeclared: “In the last two years, the sport has shown great resistance and has achieved multiple results, which has given Italy great satisfaction. Padel has grown a lot in our country in terms of the number of amateurs and professionals and The fact that the synergy between the FIT, Sport and Health and the International Federation has made it possible to host one of the four stages of the Premier Padel Major in Rome fills me with satisfaction, it is a recognition not only for the Federation, but for the sport Italian, because it confirms that sports activity is popular and should be for everyone. The framework of the Foro Italico in Rome will make this tournament unique and I am sure it will be a milestone of a high level of sport. No sport in Italy has been so successful in as little time as padel: it does not require a long technical preparation and it is very easy to learn at all ages. This confirms that the sport should be for everyone and practiced everywhere”.
Luigi Carraro, president of the International Padel Federation (FIP)stated: “This is an incredibly exciting and very special moment for padel in Italy. Thanks to the excellent work of sports institutions, clubs and players (both amateurs and professionals), our sport has grown enormously in the last five years. , and I am extremely pleased that we have been able to bring a Premier Padel Major to Italy, I can say with confidence that the fans of Rome, and the millions of spectators around the world, will enjoy a first class padel event at the Foro Italico on next month”.