A1 Padel
A1 Padel is the independent professional padel tour that runs outside the FIP-sanctioned Premier Padel and CUPRA FIP Tour system. It is strongest in Latin America (especially Argentina and Uruguay) and offers an alternative competitive structure for players who do not enter the FIP-recognised world tour.
What is A1 Padel?
A1 Padel is an independent professional padel circuit that operates outside the FIP-sanctioned tour structure. It was rebranded from APT Padel Tour in 2024 after the FIP and Premier Padel alignment. The tour runs its own calendar of events, mostly in South America, with its own ranking system separate from the FIP world ranking.
Relationship with FIP
A1 Padel is not FIP-sanctioned. Players who compete on A1 do not earn FIP ranking points, and A1 events do not count toward Premier Padel main-draw qualification. Some players move between the two systems; most commit to one or the other based on event proximity and prize money.
Who plays on it
A1 Padel events draw mostly Argentinian, Uruguayan and other Latin American players who find the FIP-sanctioned tour calendar geographically inaccessible. The tour has a smaller prize-money pool than Premier Padel but a more concentrated regional fan base. It is the closest thing padel has to a competing top tier.
Coach tip: For amateur fans in Europe and Asia, Premier Padel is the main tour to follow because it includes the highest-profile global events. For fans in Argentina, Uruguay and parts of South America, A1 Padel events are more accessible. Both circuits feature elite-level play.
Common mistakes
Treating A1 Padel as equivalent to Premier Padel for ranking purposes is the most common mistake. A1 results do not count toward FIP world ranking - which is the metric that gates entry to the biggest events. Players who want to climb the official rankings stay on Premier Padel and CUPRA FIP Tour.
