South African Invitational Padel debuts at Wanderers
World’s best padel stars lit up Wanderers in a thrilling debut tournament.
The DP World Wanderers Stadium swapped cricket for padel this past weekend as Johannesburg hosted the first South African Invitational Padel from August 15 to 17.
The tournament drew some of the world’s top players, including world number one duo Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, Spanish star Alejandro Galán, and Fernando ‘Bela’ Belasteguín, widely regarded as one of the sport’s greatest figures.
Spain’s Miguel Yanguas Díez also joined the line-up, stepping in for Juan Lebrón.
Twelve elite players were split into two teams, Los Galacticos and Los Grandes, in a fresh team-based format that reshuffled partnerships daily.
The progressive scoring system meant matches were worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday, keeping the competition alive until the final session.
Crowds enjoyed both nostalgic reunions, such as Coello pairing again with Belasteguín, and exciting new combinations like Galán with Javier Cardona.
The presence of Belasteguín, who retired last year, gave the event an emotional edge.
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Organisers said the sold-out stands and high energy confirmed padel’s growing popularity in South Africa. “This isn’t just a tournament, it’s a celebration of padel’s arrival on the African mainstage,” said event director Sarfraz Bismilla.
Only introduced locally three years ago, the sport has quickly taken root.
Bismilla added that the success of the invitational is now fuelling calls for more international events and possibly a permanent stop on the global padel calendar.
“This debut was not just about hosting world champions but about signalling the start of a new sporting chapter.”
The tournament also highlighted South Africa’s growing connection to the global padel community, with support from Playtomic, the world’s leading platform for organising matches, leagues, and training. Its involvement helped ensure the Invitational ran smoothly while showcasing how local players and fans can now easily engage with the sport on an international level.
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