Prins-De Kroon’s dream in Utrecht: home celebration and third victory of the season

70 kilometres. This is the distance separating Utrecht, the Dutch city hosting the FIP Silver Padel Copa Utrecht 2026, from Breda, the city where the No. 3 seeds of the tournament, Julian Prins and Youp De Kroon, were born. The pair arrive at the CUPRA FIP Tour event aiming to claim their third title of the year with the support of the home crowd. In 2026, they have already become champions at the FIP Bronze Lotto (Poland) and Prishtina (Kosovo). Victory will not come easily, however, with several highly competitive pairs in the draw, above all No. 1 seeds Rama Valenzuela-Dani Santigosa. The latter is looking to return to winning ways after suffering a right-leg injury at the beginning of April. At the most recent Premier Padel event, in Madrid, he was eliminated in the round of 32. Also among the players to watch in Utrecht are Pablo Vicente, a winner this season at the FIP Bronze events in Bratislava, Nairobi and Singapore, and Argentine Ignacio Archieri, winner of the FIP Silver in Bandola in June.

 

The favourites for the women’s title are Catherine Rose and Rebeca Lopez. Both have already won at least one tournament this season: the former triumphed at the FIP Silver in Dubai and the FIP Bronze in Singapore, while the latter became champion at the FIP Bronze in Frascati at the beginning of August. Also among the leading players are home representatives Tess De Vocht, who will take to the court alongside French player Steffi Merah, and Maaike Betz, partnering Spanish player Cayetana Sanchez. A total of three all-Dutch pairs will line up in the women’s draw. Also entered are Raquel Piltcher and Christina-Styliani Ntanou, who won the FIP Bronze in Wadi, Egypt, together in February.

 

The main draw of the tournament will begin on Thursday 9 September, following the third round of qualifying, and will conclude on Sunday 13 September, when the semi-finals and finals will be played.