With two months remaining until the end of the season, the margin for error begins to narrow. From October 23 to 31, the Kuwait Major enters the calendar as one of the last great opportunities to close the gap in the fight for the number one spot and climb positions in the Race. It was not originally meant to occupy this place: initially conceived as a P1, the tournament was upgraded to Major status following the cancellation of the scheduled event in Doha. The result translates into a week of intense competition, with 2,000 points at stake and a challenging draw that promises to test the circuit’s top pairs.
However, the men’s draw has suffered a significant setback before the start of the competition. Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto, the second-seeded pair, will not participate in the Kuwait Major due to an injury to the Madrid-born player. The withdrawal of the Spanish-Argentine duo was confirmed on October 24, not only by Premier Padel, but also through the player’s own social media, where he announced that he would be unable to compete and expressed his desire to return to the court soon. For the moment, the extent of the injury has not been publicly disclosed.
The number two pair, who last year won the first FIP World Cup Pairs at the same venue, will thus be replaced by a Lucky Loser duo. Likewise, their withdrawal alters the competitive landscape in the lower half of the draw. Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz, the fourth seeds, see their path to the final becoming clearer. Considering the distribution of the favored pairs, their biggest challenge would be Fran Guerrero and Javi Leal, who appear among the possible opponents in the quarterfinals, provided both pairs advance through their previous matches.
In the upper half of the draw, Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello arrive in Kuwait after winning four consecutive titles: the Paris Major, the P2 events in Rotterdam and Düsseldorf, and the P1 in Milan. The ‘Golden Boys’ once again enter as seeds, and the draw has set them on a demanding path ahead.
Their debut will take place in the round of 32, against the winners of the match between Francisco Gil and Ramiro Valenzuela on one side, and Flavio Abbate and Franco Dal Bianco on the other. The draw, however, does not give them much room to relax. In their same half of the bracket are Coki Nieto — returning from an injury that prevented him from participating in the last two tournaments — and Mike Yanguas, the sixth seeds, whom they could face in the quarterfinals. Likewise, Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger, the third favorites and recent finalists in Milan, emerge as potential opponents in the semifinals, if the rankings forecasts hold true.
A possible sixth semifinal between the world numbers two and three
The women’s draw also features several highly interesting matchups. One of the main attractions is the possibility that Paula Josemaría and Bea González, the second seeds, could face Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero, the third favorites and recent champions of the Milan P1, in the semifinals.
Throughout the season, both pairs have faced each other on eight occasions: three finals, played at the Valladolid and Rotterdam P2 events and the Milan P1, and five semifinals. After the draw on October 23, fate placed both in the lower half of the bracket, setting up a potential sixth semifinal if they win all their previous matches.
In the semifinal matchups held to date, the record favors Josemaría and González, with three wins and two losses. The pair defeated Sánchez and Ustero in Miami P1, Newgiza P2, and Buenos Aires P1, while they lost to them in Gijón P2 and at the Major in Italy. A new victory for the number three seeds at the Kuwait event would level the semifinal record between the two pairs.
To reach that hypothetical matchup, Josemaría and González are still awaiting their round of 16 opponents and could face Alejandra Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro, the eighth seeds, in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Sánchez and Ustero could make their round of 16 debut against Verónica Virseda and Martina Fassio, and then face Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen in the quarterfinals, provided the ranking predictions hold.
At the top half, Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea enter as the top seeds with the ambition of winning their seventh trophy of the season, the first since Madrid P1. The pair could make their debut against Jessica Castelló and Maria Eulalia Rodríguez. In the same half are Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo, the fourth seeds, who could face Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio in their first match. If both pairs live up to their status as favorites and win their respective matches, Triay and Brea could meet Fernández and Calvo in the semifinals.
The draw thus allows for imagining highly appealing semifinals, both in the men’s and women’s tournaments. Nevertheless, the bracket will now have to confirm on the court what is suggested on paper.
2,000 points and prize money of over one million euros
Held from October 23 to 31, the tournament is hosted at The Arena Kuwait, which is already accommodating players from the preliminary rounds on its four covered courts. It will be from October 25 that the main draw will begin, which consists of 48 pairs in the men’s draw and 40 in the women’s.
According to the official tournament sheet, as it is a Major category, a prize money of 1,044,849 euros will be awarded. From this amount, each winner will pocket 48,700 euros, in accordance with the competition’s Rulebook. Regarding the official ball, both draws will be contested with the Bullpadel Next Pro.
Where to watch the Kuwait Major
Starting October 25, the competition can be followed for free through the official Premier Padel YouTube channel up to the round of 16. From October 28 until the finals, the broadcast will be handled by Red Bull TV, also freely available.
