Prishtina welcomes Kosovo’s debut on the international FIP calendar

Over the weekend, international padel will write a new chapter in its global expansion with the absolute debut of the CUPRA FIP Tour in Kosovo, where the FIP Bronze of Prishtina will take place. The Balkan state is part of the 17 new countries that in 2026 will host, or have already hosted, a tournament on the circuit and where – according to data from the World Padel Report 2025 of the International Padel Federation – there are already 3,000 amateur players.

 

Leading the women’s draw are Victoria Kurz and Nati López Díaz, who will arrive at this tournament aiming to replicate the victory achieved two weeks ago at the FIP Bronze Cyprus I. Challenging them for the title are Lucia Pérez and Catherine Rose, winners last March of the FIP Bronze in Singapore, and the pair formed by Valeria Atencia and Patricia Araus. The latter has already claimed two titles on the circuit in 2026, achieving a “back-to-back” at the FIP Bronze I and II in Hong Kong held at the end of March. Also in the spotlight are Louise Bahurel-Ivet Val López and Ainhoa Navarro-Nuria Molina.

 

Turning to the men’s draw, the favourites for the title include the two Dutch players Julian Prins and Youp De Kroon. The top seeds of the tournament are aiming to secure their first title of the season on the circuit, but to do so they will have to overcome other highly competitive pairs in the draw: above all Adri Naranjo and Pablo Sánchez, who this year have won the FIP Bronze events in Nairobi and Singapore. Also in focus in Kosovo are Pepe Aliaga and Pau Miñano, finalists last March at the FIP Bronze in Alexandria, Egypt. Another pair targeting a strong result is Miguel Melero and Pablo Reina.