In the women’s category, Portugal arrived in Doha with the challenge of defending the fourth world position it had achieved in 2024. It did not succeed.
The formation of the different pairs lacked a sufficient level to face the Netherlands in the initial phase. In other words, there was no strategy that would allow the Portuguese team to maintain first place in Group D. There was, however, a strategy focused on promoting the debut of a 15-year-old in the National Padel Team.
Although the Portuguese Padel Federation (FPP) argued in a press release that the call-up would correspond to a “team renewal,” it is not clear why an under-16 player was called up, when, in reality, the national scene is made up of other slightly older young players, with a longer trajectory in the professional circuit and, consequently, greater international experience. An example of this would be Constança Gorito, runner-up at the 2025 Junior World Championship in the under-18 category, a professional since 2021, who competes in Cupra FIP Tour circuit tournaments throughout the year.
It is important to emphasize that this observation is in no way intended to cast doubt on the talent of the young selected player, but rather to question the sporting criteria considered by the FPP to formalize the call-up for this World Cup.
The results achieved in this championship led to Portugal losing its status as the fourth seed. In 2028, it will be forced to share a group with one of the main powerhouses of Padel – currently Spain, Argentina, Italy, or France. The challenge will be enormous, as it will need to secure first place in that group in order to avoid facing any of these teams in the quarter-finals.
By betting on the future, Portugal seems to have neglected the present. By promoting one part of the project, it may have compromised the other. It now remains to wait and see how long it will take for the team to regain its place among the best.
A brief mention
A special mention should be given to Ana Catarina Nogueira, who, in Doha, with her experience, her pace, and her technique, wore, for the last time as a player, the national team´s jersey. Her journey deserves sincere recognition for so many years of commitment and contribution to Portuguese padel.Mención especial merece Ana Catarina Nogueira, que en Doha, con su experiencia, su ritmo y su técnica, vistió por última vez la camiseta de jugadora de la selección nacional. Su trayectoria merece un sincero reconocimiento por tantos años de compromiso y contribución al pádel portugués.
The need to invest in national players
At the moment, the national team does not have players at the level of Sofia Araújo, ninth in the world rankings. This reality is partly attributed to the high costs associated with pursuing a professional career – an investment that is only covered through outstanding sporting performance, which allows for obtaining sponsorships, prizes, and other partnerships. This scenario does not occur among the other players, with the exception of Ana Catarina Nogueira, who met these conditions throughout her career and is now retiring from professional competition.
In this context, it becomes essential for the FPP to create conditions to support young players in the various aspects of their professional Padel careers. Only in this way will they be able to develop and aspire to reach levels similar to those of Sofia Araújo, currently the highest-rated Portuguese player.
