Johannesburg, South Africa, 5 May 2026 – The fastest-growing sport in the world is set to
arrive in South Africa this July with its first official international tournament. The world’s best
padel players will compete at the Pretoria Premier Padel P2, taking place at SunBet Arena at
Time Square from 26 July to 2 August 2026, with FIP Ranking points on the line as part of the
Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, the sport’s leading global circuit.
Tickets for the tournament are now on sale to the public via Ticketmaster, providing fans with
the opportunity to secure their seats for what promises to be the most significant padel event
ever staged in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The announcement marks a major milestone for the sport in Africa, following the initial
confirmation in December 2025 that Pretoria would host its first-ever Premier Padel event as
part of the global Premier Padel calendar, governed by the International Padel Federation
(FIP). The arrival of Premier Padel in South Africa reflects the continued international
expansion of the sport and its growing popularity across key global markets.
Padel is already experiencing strong momentum in the country, with around 450 clubs, more
than 1,400 courts and an estimated 500,000 amateur players nationwide, according to the
latest data from FIP Research & Data Analysis Department.
In addition to hosting elite international talent, the event will also provide meaningful
opportunities for South African players through wildcard entries and qualification pathways.
This ensures that local athletes are integrated into the global professional ecosystem and
supports the long-term development of padel in the region.
The tournament will be streamed globally on Red Bull TV, the official broadcast and

streaming partner of Premier Padel, reaching audiences in over 180 countries. Across Sub-
Saharan Africa, ESPN Africa (available on DStv Channel 218 and StarTimes 248) will deliver

full live coverage of the tournament, with the broadcast also being available on the ESPN
linear channels on Disney+ in South Africa. Furthermore, the tournament will also be carried
on Canal+ (French speaking only platform). This multi-platform broadcast strategy ensures
both global reach and deep regional penetration, bringing world-class padel to millions of
viewers.

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Primedia Sport, the sports division of Primedia, will act as the official promoter of the
tournament. The organisation will be responsible for the delivery, commercialisation, and
fan engagement strategy, reinforcing its commitment to building sustainable sports
properties across Africa.
Tobie Badenhorst, Vice President of Primedia Sport, said: “The official launch of the Pretoria
Premier Padel P2 represents a defining moment for South African sport. He noted that
hosting a world-class event at the SunBet Arena at Time Square not only delivers a premium
experience for fans, partners and broadcasters, but also creates meaningful opportunities
for local players to compete on the global stage.
Kyle de Klerk, Director of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Africa, said: “We are excited to
be adding the Pretoria Premier Padel event to ESPN Africa’s premium sports offering. ESPN
proudly showcases the very best live and studio sports programming from the US and around
the world and, with this addition, fans can look forward to another world-class sporting
event.”
Primedia Sport is proud to present the Pretoria Premier Padel P2 in collaboration with a
world-class lineup of global and local partners, including Heineken 0.0 (Official Global Beer
Partner) and Bullpadel (Official Clothing, Racket & Ball Partner), alongside leading technical
and infrastructure partners Mejorset (Official Court Partner) and Mondo (Official Turf
Partner), as well as Playtomic (Official Padel Booking Partner). The event is further supported
by 947 (Official Radio Partner), Bitexen (Official Crypto Partner), Sun International (Official
Hotel Partner), and SunBet (Official Gaming Partner), collectively forming a powerful
ecosystem of partners to deliver a premium, globally competitive padel experience in South
Africa.
ENDS
About Premier Padel
Premier Padel is the world’s leading official professional padel tour, setting the global
standard for the sport in elite competition and international reach. Founded by Qatar Sports
Investments in partnership with the International Padel Federation (FIP), the Qatar Airways
Premier Padel Tour brings together the world’s best male and female players at top venues
around the world.

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After a landmark 2025 season that saw the Tour debut in the United States, the 2026 season
features 25 tournaments across 17 countries, including new destinations in the United
Kingdom and South Africa. This growth reflects the rapid global development of Padel and
Premier Padel’s long-term commitment to sporting excellence and sustainable growth.
Broadcast in more than 244 territories worldwide, Premier Padel delivers live coverage to
fans across six continents and plays a key role in the sport’s Olympic pathway led by the FIP,
supporting the international development of professional Padel. More information:
premierpadel.com
About International Padel Federation (FIP)
The International Padel Federation (FIP) is the world governing body for padel, responsible
for overseeing the global development of the sport. With over 100 affiliated national
federations, FIP manages international competitions, rankings and the overall governance of
padel, with a long-term ambition to establish the sport within the Olympic Games.
About Primedia Sport
Primedia Sport is the dedicated sports division of Primedia, one of Africa’s leading media and
broadcasting groups. The division focuses on sports rights acquisition, event promotion,
broadcast production, sponsorship commercialisation and fan engagement across linear,
digital and OTT platforms. Primedia Sport partners with global rights holders, brands and
federations to deliver world-class events and content while building sustainable sports
properties across Africa.