World Padel Tour: What is it and what do they do?

by Joost Nusselder | Updated on:  October 4, 2022

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Padel is one of the FASTEST growing sports in the world and the World Padel Tour is there to ensure that as many people as possible, from pros and amateurs to youth, come into contact with it.

The World Padel Tour (WPT) was founded in 2012 and is based in Spain where padel is the most popular. 12 of the 16 WPT tournaments are held there. The WPT aims to make the sport of padel known worldwide and to get as many people as possible to play.

In this article I will explain everything about this bond.

World padel tour logo

Where is the WPT located?

The homeland of the WPT

The World Padel Tour (WPT) is based in Spain. The country is crazy about padel, which is reflected in the 12 of the 16 tournaments held here.

The growing popularity

The popularity of padel is growing rapidly and that is also reflected in the interest of other countries in organizing a tournament. The WPT has already received a lot of requests, so it's only a matter of time before more tournaments are held in other countries.

The future of the WPT

The future of the WPT looks promising. More and more countries want to participate in these wonderful tournaments, which means that the sport is gaining more and more fame. This means more people will enjoy this fantastic sport and more tournaments will be held.

The creation of the World Padel Tour: A momentum for the sport

The establishment

In 2012, the World Padel Tour (WPT) was founded. While many other sports had had an umbrella association for decades, this was not the case with padel. This made founding the WPT not a huge task.

The popularity

The popularity of padel is undiminished among both men and women. The WPT now has more than 500 male and 300 female players. Just like tennis, there is also an official ranking, which only lists the best players in the world.

The future

Padel is a sport that only seems to be gaining popularity. With the establishment of the WPT, the sport has gained momentum and the future therefore looks bright. We can only hope that the popularity of this great sport continues to grow.

The World Padel Tour: An Overview

What is the World Padel Tour?

The World Padel Tour (WPT) is a federation that ensures that padel can be played in a safe and fair manner. For example, they keep objective rankings and organize and provide training every year. In addition, the WPT is also responsible for promoting the sport around the world.

Who sponsors the World Padel Tour?

As the largest circuit in the world of padel, the World Padel Tour manages to attract more and more major sponsors. Currently, Estrella Damm, HEAD, Joma and Lacoste are the biggest sponsors of the WPT. The more awareness the sport gets, the more sponsors report to the WPT. As a result, the prize money will also increase in the coming years.

How much prize money can be won at padel tournaments?

Currently, more than 100.000 euros in prize money can be won at various padel tournaments. Often the tournaments are named after sponsors in order to release even more prize money. This allows more and more players to make the transition to the professional circuit.

The Big Names that sponsor Padel

Estrella Damm: One of Spain's most famous beer brands

Estrella Damm is the big man behind the World Padel Tour. This great Spanish brewer has given the Padel sport a huge boost in recent years. Without Estrella Damm, the tournaments would never have become this big.

Volvo, Lacoste, Herbalife and Gardena

These major international brands have taken the Padel sport more and more seriously. Volvo, Lacoste, Herbalife and Gardena are all sponsors of the World Padel Tour. They are known for supporting the sport and doing everything they can to help the sport grow.

Adidas and Head

Adidas and Head are also two of the many sponsors of the World Padel Tour. Given the connection between Padel and Tennis, it makes sense that these two brands are also involved in the sport. They are there to make sure the players have the best materials to play with.

The prize pool in Padel: how big is it?

The increase in prize money

The prize money at Padel has increased considerably in recent years. In 2013 the prize money of the biggest tournaments was only €18.000, but in 2017 it was already €131.500.

How will the prize money be distributed?

The prize money is usually distributed according to the following schedule:

  • Quarter-finalists: €1.000 per person
  • Semi-finalists: €2.500 per person
  • Finalists: €5.000 per person
  • Winners: €15.000 per person

In addition, a bonus pot is also held that is distributed based on the ranking. Both men and women receive the same compensation for this.

How much money can you make with Padel?

If you are the best in Padel, you can earn a lot of money. The winners of the Estrella Damm Masters in 2017 received a whopping €15.000 per person. But even if you are not the best, you can still earn a nice amount. For example, quarter-finalists already receive €1.000 per person.

The WPT Tournaments: Padel is the new black

The World Padel Tour is currently most active in Spain, where the sport enjoys tremendous popularity. Padel conditions are usually good here, resulting in Spanish professionals topping the rankings.

But the WPT tournaments are not only found in Spain. Cities such as London, Paris and Brussels also host tournaments that attract thousands of spectators. Padel is a sport that has been around for much longer, like handball and futsal, but it has already overtaken these old sports!

The padel circuit of the WPT lasts until December and ends with a Masters tournament for the best couples. During these tournaments, official padel balls that meet the requirements of the WPT are always used.

The Popularity of Padel

Padel has become extremely popular in recent years. Not only in Spain, but also in other countries. More and more people are interested in this sport and participate in tournaments.

The Tournaments of the WPT

The World Padel Tour organizes tournaments all over the world. These tournaments are a great way to promote the sport and allow participants from different countries to enjoy this unique experience.

The Official Padel Balls

Official padel balls are always used during the WPT tournaments. These balls must meet the requirements of the WPT so that everyone can play in a fair manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Tjz-Hcb08

Conclusion

The World Padel Tour (WPT) is the largest padel federation in the world. Founded in 2012, the WPT now has 500 men and 300 women in its ranks. With tournaments all over the world, including 12 in Spain, the sport is growing in popularity. The WPT ensures that games are played in a safe and fair manner, through objective rankings and training.

Sponsors are also increasingly finding their way to the WPT. Estrella Damm, Volvo, Lacoste, Herbalife and Gardena are just a few of the big names the WPT has to offer. The prize money has increased considerably in recent years, for example, the prize money of the Estrella Damm Masters was €2016 in 123.000, but in 2017 this was already €131.500.

If you have an interest in padel, the World Padel Tour is a good place to start. Whether you are a beginner or a professional player, the WPT offers a chance for everyone to learn, play and enjoy this exciting sport. In short, if you are looking for a fun and challenging sport, the World Padel Tour is THE place to be! “Padel it up!”

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.