CUPRA FIP Tour makes successful debut in Hungary

The week that has just concluded will remain a landmark in the history of padel. The CUPRA FIP Tour made its debut in Hungary, with the city of Budapest hosting the inaugural edition of the FIP Bronze Hungary. The sport’s leading players showcased their talent in front of the Hungarian crowd. Hungary is one of the 17 new countries that in 2026 will host, or have already hosted, a tournament on the circuit and where – according to the International Padel Federation’s World Padel Report 2025 – there are already 30,000 amateur players.

 

Natalia Molinilla and Ainize Santamaria became the queens of Budapest thanks to their victory in the final against Aimee Gibson-Janine Hemmes. It was a closely contested match, with the champions winning both sets 7-5. In the semi-finals, they had defeated Daniela Portilla and Claudia Ordonez 6-4 6-2, while in the quarter-finals they overcame Covadonga Verdejo Saiz and Nerea Gomez Blasquez in a third-set tie-break (2-6 6-2 7-6). This was not Santamaria’s only title in 2026: in June she claimed the FIP Bronze Dakar title in Senegal, while in March she triumphed at the FIP Bronze Joinville in Brazil.

 

Aaron Garcia Rubio and Sergio Arias Aznar became champions of the men’s draw. The Spanish pair lifted the title by defeating Jose Rico-Juan Cruz Forastello 6-4 7-6 in the final. In the semi-finals, they had recorded another impressive victory, defeating Alex Blanco Sollet-Jose Enrique Jimenez Barcelona 6-1 6-2. For the champions, this was their third title of the year, having already won the FIP Bronze Kaunas and FIP Bronze Matosinhos.