Mark your calendars, padel fans. August 1-3 will be absolutely electric in South San Francisco as Park Padel hosts the Park Padel Open USPA 2000 tournament, which is already making waves before the first ball is even served.
With 150 players descending on the courts, this isn’t just another tournament on the circuit. We’re talking about the biggest women’s draw in USPA tournament history; 16 teams battling it out for glory. That alone should tell you everything you need to know about the level of competition we’re about to witness.
The Women’s Division: History in the Making
The women’s draw isn’t just big; it’s historic. Sixteen teams means we’ll see a depth of competition that the Nox USPA circuit has never experienced.
At the top of the rankings, you’ll find Anna Cortiles and Luicelena Perez, who are literally tied for #1 in the USPA women’s rankings. These two aren’t just carrying the weight of being ranked first, they’re coming off their victory at the Sports Haus USPA 1000. When you’re at the top of your game and playing with house money, that’s when magic happens.
The challenge won’t be easy, though. Veronica Costabel (#8) and Egle Petrauskaite (#12) bring a steady, veteran presence that could frustrate the flashier teams. In tournament play, sometimes the teams make the fewest mistakes rather than the most spectacular shots and walk away victorious.
Then there’s the international flavor that makes this tournament so compelling. Jordana Lujan sits at #3 in the USPA rankings, but her partner Camila Ramme Coellar brings global experience at #90 in the FIP world rankings. That blend of domestic dominance and international tournament experience is a recipe that could surprise many people.
Don’t sleep on Marta Morga Alonso (#5 USPA) and Emma Reyes (#146 FIP) either. Morga’s top-five USPA ranking speaks for itself, while Reyes’ world ranking shows she can compete at the highest levels globally.
But just like in the men’s draw, some of the most dangerous players might not have the seeds next to their names. Julia Polo Bautista (#55 FIP) and Maria Portillo (#86 FIP) are ranked in the world’s top 100. When you’re facing players who compete regularly on the international stage, seedings become just numbers on paper.
The Men’s Division: Where Legends Collide
The men’s D1 draw reads like a who’s who of American padel royalty, and the seeding tells a story of partnerships that could reshape the tournament landscape.
We have Juan Manuel Vazquez (#1 USPA) teaming up with Matias Segura (#9 USPA) to lead the charge as the top seed. Here’s what makes this pairing fascinating: they’ve never played together in a Nox USPA Circuit event. Sometimes the best chemistry happens when you least expect it, and with Vazquez’s dominance at the top of the rankings, this could be the partnership that runs the table.
Right behind them, the second-seeded duo of Guillermo Jimenez Cagigas (#7) and Maximiliano Rozas (#8) brings a different kind of threat. These two players know each other’s games inside and out and are regular partners on the Nox USPA Circuit.
The third seed presents another intriguing storyline: Nico Agritelley (#3) and Nicolas Xiviller (#13). Like the top seeds, they’re stepping onto the court together for the first time in USPA competition. Agritelley’s top-five ranking paired with Xiviller’s flare, having already made the final of a USPA 2000 earlier this year, could produce some fireworks.
Rounding out the top four seeds are Miguel Briega Ramos (#11) and Sergio Conde (#13), a partnership that’s already been tested in tournament play. Sometimes that experience of playing together under pressure is exactly what you need when the stakes get high.
But here’s where things get interesting. Keep your eyes on the unseeded pair of Vinny Di Francesco (#3) and Octavio Alvarez (#49). These two proved they can win when it matters most, taking the title at the Sports Haus USPA 1000 just a couple of weeks ago on July 11-13. There’s nothing more dangerous than a team riding high on recent success, and Di Francesco’s top-three ranking paired with Alvarez’s touch and skill at the net could spell trouble for every seeded team in their path.
Prize Money
The Park Padel USPA 2000 will feature one of the biggest prizes on the USPA Circuit with $20,000 awarded across the men’s and women’s division 1. Following the USPA standards to ensure fairness and transparency, the prize money is distributed based on the number of seeded teams in each draw. For this tournament, it will be as follows. Winners $5,000 per pair. Runners Up $2,500 per pair. Semi-Finalists $1,250 per pair.
Why This Tournament Matters
The Park Padel Open represents something bigger than just another weekend of competition. With 150 players and the largest women’s draw in USPA history, we’re watching American padel announce itself on a bigger stage.
The mix of established USPA circuit veterans, rising stars, and internationally ranked players creates the perfect storm for upsets, breakthrough performances, and matches that are talked about for months afterward.
South San Francisco is about to become the center of the padel universe for three days. Whether you’re there courtside or following along from afar, August 1-3 promises to deliver the kind of tournament that reminds us why we fell in love with this sport in the first place.
The question isn’t whether we’ll see great padel, it’s how many incredible moments we can fit into one weekend.
To view the complete draws and schedule, visit the Park Padel USPA 2000 tournament site.Â
Follow along on the USPA and Park Padel social media accounts and stay tuned for live streaming links.