Tirana’s iconic Skanderbeg Square has been transformed into a large padel village, with four courts – and free admission – hosting the FIP Platinum Albania from Tuesday to Saturday, the second event in the most prestigious category of the CUPRA FIP Tour. Nineteen players from the top 30 of the men’s FIP ranking and 14 from the top 30 of the women’s FIP ranking will compete in an event that represents a major opportunity to promote padel in Albania. The tournament is organised through a collaboration between the International Padel Federation and the Albanian Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Culture.
MEN There will be 28 pairs competing in both the men’s and women’s draws, with the top four seeded pairs entering the competition directly in Wednesday’s round of 16. The top-seeded pair in the entry list is Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas, who will debut against either Luis Hernandez and Javi Martinez or José Diestro and Nacho Piotto. In the opposite half of the draw are Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz, who will face either David Gala and Enzo Jensen or Alvaro Melendez and José Luis Gonzalez. Rubini/Sanchez or Arce/Arroyo for Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero (3), while Martin Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista (4) will meet either a qualifying pair or Zapata/Dominguez.
WOMEN Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso are the top-seeded pair in the women’s tournament. They will begin against either a qualifying pair or Anastasiia Rhyzova and Camila Fassio; Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda (2), meanwhile, will face Ana Cristina Sanchez and Marcella Koek or another pair from the qualifiers. Completing the quartet of seeded pairs receiving a first-round bye are Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga (3, debut against Luttikhuis/Parmigiani or Vano/Clascà) and Aranzazu Osoro and Victoria Iglesias (4, opening match against Fernandez/Guerra or wild cards Torssell/Albuquerque).
Qualifying will conclude on Monday; from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30, the main draw will take centre stage, with 300 FIP ranking points awarded to the winning pairs.