newsmembership to padel and providea consistent global governanceinfrastructure, a key factor in padel’sOlympic aspirations.“The preferred route was alwaysto continue collaboration with FIP,”an ITF source said. “We were notlooking to replace FIP. We thinkthe two sports co-exist but padeldoes deserves a consistent globalgovernance infrastructure.”This infrastructure would include aworld ranking system, competitionsfor men and women and, potentially,additional categories for all levelsof abilities and ages.However, no further progressfollowed the MOU. The minutesof the ITF AGM in November mayshed some light on this. They state:“Mr Fairweather [Kelly, LTF CEO]explained that the ITF has potentialpartners willing to invest in padeland these new resources will drive thegrowth of the sport. The ITF remainsopen, however, to collaborating withall padel stakeholders despite theprevious frustrations with FIP.”This lack of progress was behind anumber of ITF members tabling amotion about how the federationcould get involved - and thesubsequent AGM vote. “The nationsthat asked the question are still inthe same situation. What do thesenations do if they don’t have a globalgovernance infrastructure in place?”said an ITF source.David Rawlinson, then President of theLawn Tennis Association, echoed theITF’s desire for collaboration, statingat the AGM that he supported thefederation becoming the governingbody of padel but considered thatnegotiations should continue with FIP,the APT (now A1 Padel) and WPT.Interestingly FIP discussed what itdescribed as the ITF’s ‘aim to interferewith the governance of padel’ at itsGeneral Assembly in April 2022, whenmembers unanimously agreed to‘endorse the respectful and friendlyco-operation between ITF and FIP, asseparate and independent governingbodies’ as well as ‘reject any divisionand conflict among sports institutions,as well as any interference of theInternational Tennis Federation (ITF)with padel matters’.ConclusionPress have speculated that the tennisworld is concerned that its sport iswaning while padel is growing - andthey want in. May be it’s a genuinedesire to unite two brilliant racketsports, growing one on the back ofthe other (take your pick which wayround). Or, perhaps, its simply a newsport experiencing growing pains in arather too public fashion. Time will tell.rival Padel Tours in truce?As The Bandeja was going to press news broke that rival padel circuits theWorld Padel Tour and Premier Padel had opened discussions about ‘potentialpositive collaborations and outcomes within the sport of padel’.The move has huge potential to unitethe world of elite padel, ending monthsof rancour and legal threats.BackgroundPremier Padel launched a year ago,backed by Qatar Sports Investments(QSI) which is headed by NasserAl-Khelaifi, president of French footballclub Paris Saint-Germain. Governed bythe International Federation of Padel (FIP)and supported by the Professional Players’Association, the tour offered big prizemoney and high profile tournaments.The World Padel Tour has roots stretchingback to 2005 and was officially namedthe WPT in 2013. It is wholly owned, viaSetpoint Events, by Spanish beer companyEstrella Damm. Last year was the tour’sbiggest to date, with more than 30 rankedtournaments in some 13 countries andburgeoning spectator numbers.Eyes on the prizeWith padel recognised as one of theworld’s fastest growing sports there is alot to play for, not least lucrative global TVrights, sponsorship deals and the kudosof being the lead global circuit.Following the launch of Premier Padel,WPT moved swiftly to protect its interestsvia the courts, with action launchedagainst QSI, FIP and the PPA. However,after months of legal wrangling a Spanishcourt rejected WPT’s case and the toursoftened its stance, increasing prizemoney and offering to remove exclusivityclauses for players signing with it.That both tours are now discussingworking together is a major stepforward for the sport and can only be apositive move.A Premier Padel statement said: “In lightof the common missions of Premier Padel,FIP, and PPA to develop the sport to thenext level globally, the partieshave agreed to enter talks with Dammto explore the possible collaborationsand outcomes.”So what might ‘outcomes’ look like?The ITF has previously called for a unifiedranking system, so that may be one pointunder discussion, as may a tournamentstructure that offers maximumopportunities for players to achieve worldranking points. However, Premier Padelhas yet to run a women’s tour and thereremains disparity in prize money betweenthe male and female game. Tournamentsschedules are planned or in place for2023, so it will be interesting to see howthe situation plays out.16 thebandeja.com
productsTHE WIZARD OF PADELPlay with the same brand as Tolito & you might get the same touchwww.kaupmanga.sePadel Magazine - WINTER DECEMBER 2022202217
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