Last Friday, November 22, the Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum hosted the presentation of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals, the final major event of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, which will take place from December 19 to 22 at the Palau Sant Jordi.
The event was attended by Berni Álvarez, Sports Minister of the Generalitat de Catalunya; David Escudé, Sports Councilor of the Barcelona City Council and President of the Fundació Barcelona Olímpica; Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation; Ramón Morcillo, President of the Spanish Padel Federation; Felip Ródenas, President of the Catalan Padel Federation; David Serrahima, CEO of Premier Padel; Joan Cuscó, President of Octagon Spain; and professional player Fernando Belasteguín.
“Barcelona is a city that fully embraces sports, as you can see in every neighborhood, and padel is no exception”, has remarked David Escudé during the first panel discussion, which also featured Luigi Carraro. Carraro remarked, “Coming to Barcelona was a dream we will fulfill this December. It’s really a big thrill for us, for the Premier Padel circuit, but also for the whole padel community worldwide. We started this project at the end of 2021 and in 2022 we celebrated the first tournament. We have always had a dream: to play in Barcelona. We played in all the most important cities in the world, but Barcelona was missing. And it was no accident that it was missing, because we wanted to come here to celebrate the most important tournament. It’s a great emotion for us. Padel is growing a lot: today it’s played in more than 150 countries and we have more than 30 million players. But we have never forgotten our roots, our history. And Barcelona, in this sense, is the greatest strength we have. We wish everyone a fantastic tournament”. This view was reinforced by Berni Álvarez, who added, "Catalonia has been investing in padel for years, and hosting this event is proof of that."
The second panel discussion opened with Ramón Morcillo highlighting the “excellent health of padel in Spain in 2024”. Similarly, Felip Ródenas has expressed gratitude: “We thank everyone here today for making it possible to bring padel back to Catalonia and Barcelona”. To finish, Joan Cuscó has confidently stated, “This event will not disappoint anyone”.
The best season for professional padel
To mark the end of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour season, player Fernando Belasteguín reflected on the first year of Premier Padel as a unified circuit in collaboration with the International Padel Federation (FIP). “It has been the best year for professional padel, and I hope that in every Finals presentation in the coming seasons, we can say it’s the best year for professional padel. If we, from the top of the pyramid, all work together and in the same direction, I have no doubt it will have an impact on the different countries and federations,” said the Argentine.
David Serrahima, General Manager of Premier Padel, also reflected on the success of the 2024 season: “This has been a transformative year for Premier Padel, solidifying its position as a global leader in the sport with new territories, strategic partners, unforgettable events, and an outstanding experience for both fans and players.”
Fernando Belasteguín to say goodbye to professional padel in Barcelona
Bela also announced that, regardless of whether he qualifies for the Finals by ranking, he will attend the event on December 21, when a tribute match will be held to honor his 30-year career in the sport, including 16 years as world number one. The exhibition match will feature some of his greatest rivals and teammates, such as Juan Martín Díaz, Seba Nerone, Juani Mieres, Gaby Reca, Pablo Lima, and celebrities Gianluca Vacchi and Carles Puyol.
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