The first Premier Padel major of the 2026 season arrives in Doha with arguably the strongest field in the tour's history. The draw ceremony confirmed what many feared: a loaded top half that could produce semifinal-quality matches from the quarter-final stage.
The Draw
Top seeds Lebron and Coello land in the same half as third seeds Garrido and Di Nenno, setting up a potential semifinal clash between the two dominant pairs of the past twelve months. The bottom half looks more open, with Tapia/Stupaczuk and Galán/Chingotto the leading contenders.
For the women's draw, top seeds Josemaría and Sánchez have a relatively clear path to the semis, while second seeds Triay and Fernández face a tricky quarter-final against the in-form Salazar and Riera.
Key Storylines
Lebron and Coello arrive as defending champions and world number ones. Their record in 2025 was remarkable — seven titles from eleven events — and they've shown no signs of slowing down. But Garrido and Di Nenno's Dubai title last week demonstrates they're the pair most likely to disrupt the status quo.
The Doha venue, the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, has been fitted with four show courts and twelve practice courts. Prize money reaches $500,000 for the first time at a non-slam major, reflecting the tour's growing commercial appeal.
Schedule
Main draw matches begin March 24, with the men's and women's finals scheduled for March 30. All matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be broadcast live on the Premier Padel streaming platform and select regional broadcasters.
"Doha is the perfect way to start the major season. The facilities are world-class, the field is incredibly deep, and the atmosphere last year was electric." — Alejandro Galán
For NZ fans, matches will be available on the Premier Padel YouTube channel with a slight delay, or live via the tour's subscription service. Quarter-final start times translate to early morning NZ time.