The United States continued its steady rise on the international stage at the FIP Junior World Cup in Costa Daurada, Reus, Spain, with both the team and pairs competitors showcasing progress for the country’s emerging players. 2025 marked the largest-ever FIP Junior World Cup, with over 60 countries participating across the Boys and Girls Divisions. Sixteen nations play in the FIP Junior World Cup Finals, and due to the large number of entries, the USA was required to participate in the qualification draw for both the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions. 

The girls’ team was drawn against Ecuador and Venezuela, while the boys’ team was drawn against Uruguay and Venezuela, with only one country set to advance from each qualifying phase. 

Historic Performances in the Team Competition

The U.S. Girls’ Team recorded a landmark moment in its program history, earning a 2–1 victory over Ecuador, the first time the U.S. has defeated the South American nation in FIP competition.

• Ornella Beltramino and Emma Cantu delivered a strong opening win in the U14 division, setting the tone early.
• In the U16 match, Katalina Correa and Roberta Berlanga narrowly fell in a dramatic third set that underscored how close the margins have become between the U.S. and South America’s established powers.
• Sophie Alarcon and Delfina Inza clinched the deciding point in the U18 category to secure the overall tie for the USA.
  

Against Venezuela, the U.S. girls once again proved competitive. Beltramino and Cantu scored another straight-sets victory in the U14s. In the U16 and U18 categories, the USA fought valiantly, but Venezuela proved too strong in both positions. 

For the U.S. Boys’ Team, the results did not translate into overall wins, but the performances spoke volumes about the team’s growing depth and competitiveness.

• In the tie against Uruguay, Alejandro Kalil and Diego de la Cruz took the U14 match with an impressive display of precision and consistency, prevailing 6-3, 6-0.
• Pablo Avina and Marco Acosta faced tough competition and fought hard, but ultimately went down 4-6, 4-6 in the U16 match. In U18, the experienced team of Alan Brinol and Camilo Velasco narrowly lost 6-7, 6-7 in a tremendous battle. Showing just how close the overall result was against Uruguay.

“The boys may not have come away with a team victory, but they made an impact,” said coach Jaume Rouillon. “Every point was contested, and it was clear that our American juniors were prepared to compete with anyone.”

Progress Reflected in the Pairs Competition

In the FIP Junior World Cup by Pairs, U.S. players again showed encouraging progress.

• Ornella Beltramino and Emma Cantu received a Wild Card but faced tough competition and didn’t advance past the Round of 32.
  
• Roberta Berlanga and Katalina Correa also received a Wild Card and earned a commanding first-round victory (6–1, 6–1) over Costa Rica to progress to the round of 16. In a competitive match, they fell to the seventh-seeded Mexican team. Berlanga and Correa’s progress to the round of 16 was the highlight of the national pairs for the USA.
• The other USA players were unable to compete in the pairs competition, as the USA did not qualify for the World Cup team finals.
  

Leadership and Commitment

The U.S. delegation was led by Head Coaches Lorena and Jaume Rouillon, supported by the USPA delegate and families who traveled from across the country to support the players.

“I could see in the eyes of every player how eager and hungry they were to win every single match. As a coach, that is one of the proudest feelings you can have: seeing the fire, unity, and determination in your team. I’m deeply proud of every player and every parent who are helping to improve padel in the United States,” said Lorena Rouillon. “As coaches, we are thrilled and extremely proud of our team because we see how committed they are throughout the year. We know that for the juniors, this is a big commitment. The United States is so large that most players have to take flights just to attend tournaments, and some even travel outside the country to compete. Despite that, we held several tournaments across the U.S. this year, and the players never wanted to miss a single one. We are proud of the effort and dedication they continue to show. At the World Cup, it was clear how much they wanted to win every single match. Even when facing tough countries, they competed with the best attitude, believing in themselves and fighting until the end for their country, something we deeply admire.”

Building Toward the Future

The 2025 campaign marks a pivotal step in the U.S. junior development pathway. With participation and training opportunities expanding through USPA-sanctioned academies and junior growth initiatives set to launch in late 2025, the next generation of American players is gaining the experience and confidence needed to perform on the global stage.

The team was supported by Bullpadel, Padelmba, Padel Haus, Van Eck, and Chosen Foods.

FIP Junior World Championship – USA Results Summary

Boys America Group A – USA vs Venezuela. 0-3

Boys America Group A – USA vs Uruguay. 1-2

Girls America Group A – USA vs Ecuador. 2-1

Girls America Group A – USA vs Venezuela. 1-2

FIP Junior World Cup – Pairs Results (USA)