THE FIRST DAY OF MODON ABU DHABI PADEL MASTER SAW EXCITING WINS AND MAJOR UPSETS

The first day of the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master’s Main Draw witnessed shocking defeats early on in the tournament as well as some exciting wins.

This tournament is a major landmark for Middle East sports and the World Padel Tour, which is taking place for the first time in Abu Dhabi, awarding winners a total prize pool of €250,000, the highest ever in a WPT tournament.

As anticipated, the action on the first day was incredible, headlined by the upsetting defeat of fan-favourite Francisco ‘Paquito’ Navarro Compan (Spain), who played with Argentina’s Juan Tello, 4/6 – 5/7 against Spain’s Gonzalo Rubio Perez and Javier Ruiz Gonzalez.

Other fan favourites Argentine Federico Chingotto and Spaniard Javier Garrido ‘El Califa’ Gómez cruised through to the next round, winning two sets against Francisco Javier Leal Perez and Jon Sanz Zalba. Top-seeded Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello Manso came through for their fans, winning against Javier García Mora and Javier González Barahona, 7/6 – 7/6.

After ending the 2022 season with a five-title, 19-match winning streak, Spain’s number one ranked Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea and Gemma Triay Pons beat their compatriots Anna Cortiles and Sofia Saiz Vallejo, winning a fairly one-sided match, 6/2 – 6/0.

Otherwise throughout the day, Spain’s Lucia Sainz Pelegri and Argentina’s Aranzazu Osoro Ulrich overcame Portugal’s Ana Catarina Nogueira and Spain’s Elisabet Amatriain Armas 6-3/6-3. Italy’s Carlotta Casali Vannicelli and Maria Rodriguez unfortunately failed to make it past the first round, suffering defeat in three sets to the favoured pair of Spain’s Marta Talaván Ruiz and Lorena Rufo Ortiz.

The Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master continues to make waves as WPT announced that they will be awarding players the highest number of points in the tour’s history, placing significant importance on the Abu Dhabi Master, the first tournament of the 2023 season, which is also expected to be the biggest and most international season yet.

The tournament bears its most important marks in the presence of the first-ever Arab players to take part in a WPT main draw, as well as the youngest ever male player in the history of the tour, 16 year old Emirati Abdulla Alabdulla who will compete in the main draw of the Abu Dhabi Master along with his partner Fares Aljanahi.

Padel has sky-rocketed in popularity globally in recent years, and the staging of the WPT 2023 season opener in Abu Dhabi is a testament to the sport’s growing global adoption as well as Abu Dhabi’s position as a global world-class sporting destination.

A celebration of the sport

Player participation, both on an international and regional level has been a major draw for the public. However, the tournament has also proven to be popular among visitors by presenting fun activities and attractions, a variety of food trucks and outlets, and entertainment for the whole family in a spectacular location.

Bab Al Nojoum, Abu Dhabi’s luxury campsite on Hudayriyat Island where the Master tournament is taking place, is a leading leisure destination by Modon Properties, which has quickly become one of the most thrilling sporting destinations in the region.

The six-day tournament promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans and players alike, featuring a dedicated fan village with a backdrop of pristine blue waters. With one centre court and two side courts built right on the beach, spectators will witness the biggest global names in padel competing.

The Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master is the first of 27 tournaments in what will be the most ambitious season in the World Padel Tour history. Interestingly, five of the top ten pairs in the men's draw are newly formed, and four more in the women's circuit.

World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master is organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with Global MICE Organisation Limited (GMOL Events). Modon Properties is the title sponsor for UAE’s newest international sporting event, while other key sponsors include Emirates Post Group, McDonald’s, Bullpadel, Hilton, Estrella Damm, Head, among others.

For more information on the World Padel Tour, including ticket sales and the full schedule of events, please visit the tournament’s official website: https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/85949/world-padel-tour-modon-abu-dhabi-master