The CUPRA FIP Tour makes its debut in Pakistan: Karachi takes centre stage

KARACHI – Another chapter in the history of the CUPRA FIP Tour and its global expansion is about to be written. This week will see the circuit’s first-ever event in Pakistan, with the FIP Bronze Pakistan I taking place in Karachi. The country is one of the 17 new nations that will host, or have already hosted, a tournament on the circuit in 2026 and where, according to data from the International Padel Federation’s World Padel Report 2025, there are 50,000 amateur players. Last week, Karachi hosted FIP Promises Karachi III, a stop on the circuit dedicated to the rising stars of world padel.

 

Nico Zurita and Diego Arredondo will be the top seeds in the men’s draw. This year, Zurita has won three CUPRA FIP Tour events: the FIP Bronze tournaments in Istanbul, Selangor and Helsingborg. Arredondo, meanwhile, will be looking for his first title on the circuit this year, having finished runner-up at last July’s FIP Bronze in Jakarta. The main challengers to the No. 1 seeds will be Adrian Ronco and Julian Lacamoire, who arrive in Pakistan on the back of their FIP Bronze victory in Dubai last weekend. Also among the leading pairs are Pablo Pastor-Agustin Reca and Wagdy Raslan-Aly Zaghloul.

 

The No. 1 seeds in the women’s draw are Ainize Santamaria and Gimena Sol Perez. In 2026, Santamaria has claimed the titles at the FIP Bronze tournaments in Dakar and Joinville. Challenging them for the title will be the Portuguese pair of Mafalda Marques and Patricia Ribeiro. Also worth keeping an eye on in Pakistan are Nika Sluzhiteleva-Anastasiia Ryzhova. Vilena Petrova and Vlada Kutuzova will also be aiming to play a leading role.

 

The main draw of the tournament will begin on Friday 2 October and conclude on Sunday 4 October, when the semi-finals and final will be played.