World padel round-up: men’s and women’s title races heating up
The World Padel Tour’s 2021 season is now five events down and there’s hardly anything separating the leading male and female players.
Let’s recap who’s impressed on the world circuit since it resumed in April.
We also have updates on the European Padel Championships starting later this month, and footage of the latest padel hot shot to go viral!
Tight at the top
While it’s still early in the season, the men’s championship looks set to come down to a straight shootout between last season’s number one pairing, Alejandro Galán and Juan Lebrón, and the experienced duo of Fernando Belasteguín “Bela” and Sanyo Gutierrez “Sanyo”.
Of the five events played this year, Galán and Lebrón have won three times, Bela and Sanyo have won twice, and as a result they are fighting it out in the top two spots.
Unfortunately, Bela experienced a calf injury in the last tournament which saw the pair withdraw in the semi-finals. The pair are hoping he makes a speedy recovery so they can continue their battle in the 2021 World Padel Tour rankings race.
On the women’s side, there’s also little separating the top two teams.
Gemma Triay Pons – who was part of the top-ranked team last year with Lucía Sainz Pelegri before the pair parted ways – and her new partner Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea, sit just 10 points behind the current leaders María Virginia Riera and Patricia Llaguno Zielinski.
With a packed schedule in June and July, get ready for plenty of movement in the rankings!
Brits ready for the Euros
From June 28 – July 4, men’s and women’s teams will represent Britain in the European Padel Championship in Marbella.
A total of 16 countries will battle it out for the coveted title, including Italy (the defending men’s champions) and France (the defending women’s champions).
Chosen to represent Great Britain are:
Men’s Team
- Christian Medina
- Richard Brooks
- Sam Jones
- Louie Harris
- Sandy Farquharson
- Ryan Wyatt
- Nikhil Mohindra
- Alfonso Patacho
Women’s Team
- Laura Deigman
- Tia Norton
- Yusimi Crossley
- Leanne Raine
- Hansie Ruddick
- Hannah Maddock
- Zuzka Patacho
- Sofia Govorusa
Why we love padel…
As we all know padel is famous for its breath-taking rallies – and this one is no exception.
Sit back and enjoy this amazing effort from Arturo Coello and Miguel Lamperti during the Estrella Damm Alicante Open.