Foro Italico welcomes the big stars. Carraro: “Rome Until 2030 and wild card for Olympic Champion Sara Errani”

It’s not just a tournament; it’s the show that lights up the city of Rome, beyond the game, into history. The Foro Italico Park is ready to transform once again into the ideal stage for international padel, where technique, grit, and superb plays will blend into an irresistible mix. One year after the triumph of Ari Sánchez and Paula Josemaría in the women’s category and Ale Galán and Federico Chingotto in the men’s, the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel returns to the Capital. From the qualifiers on June 8 to the finals on Sunday, June 15, Rome is ready to welcome the circuit’s superstars once more. Athletes of world-class caliber will battle to claim the coveted title, while the audience—protagonists in the stands—will accompany every point with their usual contagious enthusiasm. Eight days of high-level competition, an experience to live in one breath.

“The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel in Rome, now in its fourth edition, is not just one of the four major tournaments on the world circuit, but one of the most exciting events of the season,” said Luigi Carraro, president of the International Padel Federation, during the press conference. “A special location: that’s why we’re proud to have signed, a few weeks ago, the renewal of the agreement for the Italy Major here in Rome for another five years. Five years that will then be forever, because we’ve included an automatic renewal system, making Rome a permanent location.”

“The Foro Italico,” continued President Carraro, “is unparalleled in the world of sports architecture, and everything that happens here becomes a unique piece of invaluable value.” Then, a leap into the past: “Here in Rome, we’ve experienced moments that have contributed to making padel a global phenomenon, both in terms of competitive competitions and amateur practice. And we know it: Rome and padel represent the perfect rhyme in a verse that tells of great players amidst a unique audience spectacle.”

“The first three chapters of the Major,” recalls the FIP president, “were extraordinary for the spectacle and the teamwork created between FIP and Premier Padel with the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation and Sport e Salute in organizing this great tournament. Now we’ll write the fourth, aware that it too will be unforgettable, also thanks to the presence of an Olympic champion like Sara Errani, winner of the gold medal in doubles at the Paris Olympics, six Grand Slam tournaments, and the last two editions of the doubles tournament right here at the Foro Italico. We’re proud to reserve a wildcard for her in the main draw of a Major,” concludes Carraro, “which is equivalent to a tennis Grand Slam.”bnlitalymajorpremierpadel.com

On the field, 240 athletes will compete on two draws (main draw and qualifiers), with the now-established combined format. 118 matches are scheduled for one of the four Majors (the equivalent of a tennis Grand Slam) on the international calendar, alongside Doha, Paris, and Acapulco.

TOP PLAYERS BACK IN ACTION IN ROME The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel in Rome will once again feature the best from the international circuit: male and female players will compete to claim one of the four most prestigious titles in the world. Leading the pack will be the number one pair, Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello, already winners of the Riyadh Season P1, the Qatar Major Premier Padel, the P2 in Brussels, and the P1 in Buenos Aires. On the other side of the draw, Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto, eager to reaffirm themselves at the Foro and winners of three titles in 2025 (Miami, Santiago, and Asunción). Also noteworthy are Juan Lebrón and Franco Stupaczuk, with ‘El Lobo’ being a champion in Rome with Galán in the first edition held in 2022. Great anticipation surrounds Mike Yanguas and Coki Nieto, as well as Momo González paired with Jon Sanz and Juan Tello with Martín Di Nenno. Also to watch are the pairs of Lucas Bergamini and Paquito Navarro (a true fan favorite at the Foro Italico in previous editions), Pablo Cardona and Leandro Augsburger (protagonists of a great start to the season), Edu Alonso and Jairo Bautista, as well as Javi Garrido paired with Tino Libaak, one of the many players who in 2024 also became world champions with the Argentina team.

The women’s draw also promises top-level challenges: the player of the moment is undoubtedly Gemma Triay, who will play alongside Delfi Brea, with whom she’s building an extraordinary season, having already won the P2 in Gijón and Cancún, the P1 in Miami, and, most notably, the prestigious Qatar Major Premier Padel. But all eyes will also be on Paula Josemaria and Ari Sánchez, who in Rome will be aiming for their fourth seasonal victory after triumphs in the P1 in Riyadh, the P2 in Brussels, and the P1 in Buenos Aires, which allowed them to reclaim the top spot in the ranking after it was briefly held by Triay. Also under the spotlight are other high-quality ‘parejas’ like Bea González and Claudia Fernández, Andrea Ustero and Sofía Araújo, Marta Ortega alongside Ale Alonso, as well as Lucía Sainz and Patty Llaguno. In the main draw, there are also Veronica Virseda with Alejandra Salazar, Tamara Icardo paired with Claudia Jensen, Aranzazu Osoro with Martina Calvo, and Bea Caldera with Carmen Goenaga.

WILD CARDS ANNOUNCED BY CARRARO – From winning the doubles title at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia tennis tournament to getting a wildcard at the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel: as announced by Carraro, less than a month after her victory on clay with Jasmine Paolini, Sara Errani will return to the Foro Italico to play in the Major with a padel racket in hand.

Errani‘s passion for padel – she’s a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Olympic gold medalist in Paris, and part of the winning team of the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga – had already led her to compete at the start of the season in two CUPRA FIP Tour events, the international circuit of the FIP: in Melbourne, a few days before the Australian Open, she played with Tathiana Garbin, captain of the Italian national team, and at the FIP Gold in Dubai, she partnered with Caterina Baldi.

In Rome, Sara will play with 20-year-old Giulia Dal Pozzo, one of the young Italian padel talents to watch. The other wildcard for the main draw went to Martina Parmigiani and Chiara Pappacena, a local player from Rome.

In the men’s tournament, wildcards for the main draw went to more Italian players: Giulio Graziotti (also from Rome) and Simone Cremona, Simone Iacovino (also born in the capital, like Graziotti) and Lorenzo Di Giovanni. Also in the main draw: Alvaro Montiel Caruso and Flavio Abbate. Riccardo Sinicropi, teamed up with Spanish player Jorge Ruiz, received a wildcard for the qualifying rounds.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE – The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel will begin with the qualifying matches, played on Sunday, June 8, and Monday, June 9.

On Tuesday, June 10, both the men’s and women’s main draws will start.

The semifinals will be played on Saturday, June 14: the first two matches (first the women’s, then the men’s) will start at 1:00 PM; the remaining ones will not start before 7:00 PM.

On Sunday, June 15, starting from 6:30 PM, the finals will take place – first the women’s, then the men’s.

PADEL WORLDWIDE: THE NUMBERS OF THE BOOM – Since 2022, the year of the first Rome Major, padel has grown rapidly around the world. According to data from the FIP Research & Data Analysis Department, the research center of the International Padel Federation, there were about 20 million players worldwide three years ago; today, that number has grown to over 30 million – a 50% increase – with more than 700,000 registered members.

The number of courts has also seen a big jump: from 42,000 in 2022 to over 73,000 in the first five months of 2025 (+74%), across more than 140 countries.

Among all players, 59% are in Europe, 23% in South America, 7% in Central and North America, 6.4% in Asia, 4.3% in Africa, and 0.3% in Oceania.

Most amateur players are men (60%), but padel remains one of the most popular sports among women worldwide, who make up 40% of all players.

STATEMENTS

Angelo Binaghi, President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation:
“After an unforgettable edition of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia tennis tournament, the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel will bring the Foro Italico back to life, hosting the top female and male players of the international circuit.

Hosting one of the four Majors again, the highest level in this sport, is a great honor for us and also an opportunity to keep investing in promoting padel.

Our efforts in padel are paying off: all indicators show this sport is growing constantly year after year. This growth puts Italy at the top worldwide and confirms the strength of the global padel movement.

This event is made possible thanks to the teamwork between our Federation, Sport e Salute, the City of Rome, the Lazio Region, and the continued trust from the International Federation and Premier Padel in our work.

We’ve proven we can organize top-level international events. We’ll keep working to grow this sport further and develop new generations of athletes able to compete at the highest level – just like we’ve done in tennis.”

Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sport e Salute:

“The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel confirms Rome as one of the world capitals of padel.

In just three years, the Foro Italico has transformed, welcoming this fast-growing sport.

With over 1.2 million players in Italy, padel has become a social phenomenon, blending sport, culture, and inclusion.

From the red clay and white marble of the tennis Internazionali – which just ended with record numbers – we now dive into the blue padel courts for an international event that, like others organized by Sport e Salute with the federations, will support tourism, the economy, and the sporting community.”

Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism, and Fashion for Rome:
“The BNL Italy Major Premier Padel, the most important tournament held in only three other cities worldwide, confirms Rome’s central role in the padel world.

Rome is the third city globally in number of courts, after only Madrid and Barcelona.

We’re proud to host, for the fourth year, 240 top international athletes who will entertain the crowd in a unique, beautiful, and welcoming setting.

Padel is an accessible sport, letting over 250,000 people of all ages enjoy sports and social interaction.

This major sporting event is part of a rich calendar of international sports, music, cultural, and fashion events, all helping to boost the economy, attract tourists, and create more jobs.”

Geraldine Conti, Chief People & Engagement Officer, BNL BNP Paribas:
“We’re entering the 20th year of partnership with FITP, and for the third year in a row, we’re proud to be the title sponsor of the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel.

Easy access to the sport, gender balance among players, widespread participation, and the exciting and dynamic nature of the game are all part of a winning formula that has made padel one of the most played sports at all levels.

We strongly share the inclusive spirit of padel and recognize its ability to create not only economic benefits but also positive social impact.”.