As Spain is the birthplace of padel tennis it’s only fair that the World Padel Tour will return to Marbella and San Pedro this year between 17th and 24th March. Last month Councillors for Sport, Javier Mérida and Manuel Osorio, with the director of the tournament in Spain, Luis Torres, presented the event that is being held at the Real Club de Pádel de Marbella and the Palacio de Sports Sampedreño Elena Benítez, with the top 96 male and best 54 female couples in the world taking part.
“We are facing the most important test in the world of padel, as after five years, we regained the event for our city with the aim of it not only being a first-rate sporting event, but also a tourist and economic opportunity for the municipality,” Mérida said.
The mayor has stressed that the tournament is a “luxury to have, over the next three years, with the best professional padel matches taking place in Marbella,” this is thanks to the agreement reached by the City Council and the Mayor of San Pedro with the world padel organisation for a three-year contract. Torres thanked the City Council and the Tenencia for their support, “so that professional paddle returns, and we can build loyalty in Marbella.”
Undoubtedly, the top-level event will generate a significant boost for the economy and local tourism, with fans encouraged to watch the tournament from the month of March, where the first test of the circuit is to be held at the Real Club de Pádel de Marbella.
The goal is that after three years the tournament will continue to be held in the city, the most important town in Spain for this sport, as assured by the director of the championship. Figures are predicting an income of 1.5 million euros into the area with more than two million views on television and streaming. Padel attracts five million participants in Spain and has become the second biggest sport in the country behind only football in terms of fanbase.