Pretoria is located in the northeast of South Africa, in the province of Gauteng. As the country’s executive capital and known as the Jacaranda City for the thousands of trees that every spring turn its streets a deep lilac color, it will add a new reason for recognition from July 26 to August 2: it will host the first Premier Padel tournament to be held on South African territory.

In a country where rugby is part of the national identity, padel continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to the tournament’s official website, South Africa already has more than 410,000 amateur players and 1,400 courts. This growth now finds its greatest showcase with the arrival of the Pretoria P1, an event that stands out for the debut of this venue on the calendar, for the rotation of pairs, and for the demanding playing conditions that the best players in the world will face.

Altitude and temperature will set the tone for the tournament

Rising 1,339 meters above sea level, Pretoria’s altitude stands out as one of the main determining factors of the tournament. It is worth remembering that at high altitudes, air resistance decreases; the pace of the match accelerates considerably; the ball flies, bounces higher, and reaches the backboard sooner than expected.

To minimize this effect, Bullpadel has developed the Bullpadel Premium Pro High Altitude, a ball designed uniquely and exclusively for this event. With a lower pressure than the usual Premium Pro, this model aims to balance the speed of rallies by slowing down the pace of the match, allowing players to have greater control over their shots.

However, altitude will not be the only significant factor in this tournament. It is worth noting a significant climatic contrast that the players will face: from the intense heat of tournaments such as those in Valladolid or Málaga —with temperatures around 40 degrees— they will, in just a few days, transition to the austral winter of South Africa, with daytime highs of 22 degrees and nighttime lows dropping to 10 degrees.

Although the event is held indoors, the dry and cold atmosphere outside may not only pose a greater adaptation challenge for the players but also affect the behavior of the ball, especially during the first matches of the day, when the venue has not yet accumulated the warmth generated by the audience and the competition.

From P2 to P1: more points and higher prize money

When Premier Padel presented the 2026 calendar, Pretoria was initially listed as a P2 tournament, a category that usually sees numerous absences among the top players due to the demanding schedule. However, the subsequent restructuring of the circuit, following the cancellation of the Doha Major, led to this event being upgraded to P1, becoming a mandatory stop for the main figures of the circuit.

Consequently, the prize money has increased to 479,068 euros. As for the distribution of points, both in the men’s and women’s draws, the champions will receive 1,000 points; the finalists, 600; the semifinalists, 360; the quarterfinalists, 180; and those who reach the round of 16 will earn 90 points.

The competition venue will be the SunBet Arena, owned by the Sun International group, one of the leading South African companies in the hospitality, casino, and entertainment sectors. With a capacity for 8,500 spectators, the multipurpose pavilion will feature three competition courts manufactured by Mejor Set and a Mondo grass surface.

The women’s draw debuts new alliances

Beyond the specific conditions of the tournament, much of the focus will be on the women’s draw. The main highlight will be the debut of Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo, who are beginning their new stage together in Pretoria. The 20-year-old Madrid native and the promising 18-year-old from Navarre are starting a project that has generated enormous anticipation due to the talent they bring together and the potential they show for the future.

The absence of Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero (due to the injury of the latter, which had already prevented the number 3 pair from competing in the Málaga P1) alters the order of the seeds and allows Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo to start the tournament as the third favorites, one position above the initially expected ranking.

The other major news will be the return of Sofia Araújo and Marta Ortega. The Portuguese and the Madrilenian will begin the third stage of the ‘Lupitas,’ a project that arouses fans’ curiosity to see if this partnership will bear fruit again. In Pretoria, they start as the fourth seeds.

With new pairs, very particular playing conditions, and an unprecedented setting for professional padel, the South African capital leaves a question to be answered: who will take the first title of the Pretoria P1?