ShareBy Abdellatif Sharaa and Faten Omar
KUWAIT: Ariana Sanchez Fallada and her teammate Paula Josemaria Martin advanced to the final match by defeating Maria Ortega Gallego and Sofia Araujo in 1 hour and 38 minutes. The match started at an equal level as evident by the score, until the seventh game when Sanchez and Jose Maria broke serve, only for Ortega and and Arujoto to break back immediately.
The two teams maintained their serves and had to go to a tie break which was totally dominated by Sanchez and Josemaria who won the tie break 7-0 as the first lasted 58 minutes. The second set began with a surprising service break in favor of Ortega-Araujo, but they did not enjoy the moment because Sanchez-Josemaria broke back and went on to win all remaining games to advance to the final in two straight sets with the score of 7-6, 6-1. In other games (the first men’s semifinal) F Stupaczuk and M Yanguas didn’t face much trouble as they beat F Chingotto and A Galan in two sets 6-3, 6-1. Also, in the second women’s semifinal match, Triay-Sanchez eased through to the final match in two sets 6-0, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Kuwait times spoke to the Padel fans at the arena. At the Premier Padel Kuwait P1 tournament, Kuwait Times had the opportunity to engage with the audience. Fans shared their excitement about the sport’s rapid growth in Kuwait, expressing admiration for the world-class players competing at the event. Maryam Al-Hamad described the tournament as a great success, commending the organizers for their exceptional professionalism, noting that the details are leveled up to international games.
She highlighted how events like these are important to grow the engagement of the community with sports in Kuwait, sharing that padel has recently become her latest obsession, a passion sparked by a relative who encouraged her to try the sport. Meanwhile, Yousef Al-Manai, a teenage padel player, told Kuwait Times that he participated in a padel tournament in Kuwait and also he didn’t win but it evolved his skills. He added that he is still observing how others play to enhance his skills and compete in more tournaments. For him and his friends, the game feels relatively easy, which motivates them to engage further in the sport.
As for Ahmed Al-Raqum, Alejandra Salazar Sánchez and Gemma Triay Josemaría are top players who are well-known in padel sport. He praised their exceptional skill and teamwork on the court, noting that their playing technique is a great mix of defensive and offensive and the way they dominate the court shows good skills.
Talking about Padel’s equipment, Ronald Celadena who works for Play Padel Academy, said that the availability and sourcing of paddle equipment in Kuwait is still needed, saying “Most equipment including rackets, balls, ball tubes, carts, and textiles are imported from a GCC distributor based in Dubai. However, Kuwait still needs to import more equipment, particularly diverse rackets, shoes, and other training tools, to meet the growing demand.” He highlighted that the presence of different brands is important and each can offer unique technologies, especially for balls, which vary in bounce and feel depending on the brand, adding that the choice of equipment often depends on the player’s preference.
He noted that the sport’s intensity and competitive nature are becoming more evident, especially as it gains recognition, comparing it to watching amateur tennis versus a Nadal-Djokovic match. Celadena said that he is a tennis fan, but recently he has been shifting more towards Padel, appreciating its unique features, such as the walls that are a significant adjustment for tennis players transitioning to Padel. He Indicated, “There are lots of challenges for tennis players, compared to Padel players. The use of the wall in Padel courts is a fundamental difference, and it takes time for players to adapt. However, once they overcome this challenge, the transition becomes much smoother”.
The Premier Padel Kuwait P1 tournament has drawn over 150 top-ranked global players to Kuwait, marking the country’s significant entry into the Premier Padel circuit, under the leadership of BNK Holding Chairman Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi. The tournament (scheduled from November 9-17) is taking place at The Arena, 360 Mall, and the Rafa Nadal Academy.
