San Diego, California
The Padel America Junior Circuit Finals, presented by Playtomic, united many of the brightest young players from across the Americas for an exciting three-day showcase of skill, teamwork, and international competition. The event marked the culmination of the inaugural Padel America Junior Circuit, a new initiative launched by Padel America, the governing body for the sport across the continent.
Hosted by Taktika Padel in San Diego, the Finals reflected both the club’s commitment to developing youth padel and its continued support of the USPA’s mission to grow the sport nationwide.
The circuit was created to expand competitive opportunities for junior players throughout the region. Following three qualifying tournaments held across Latin America, top athletes from Chile, Mexico, the United States, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay earned their places in the Finals.
This first edition of the Junior Circuit marks a milestone for youth padel development in the Americas and serves as a testament to Padel America’s vision in creating a platform that enables the next generation of players to compete, connect, and grow through the sport.
“The success of the Padel America Junior Circuit Finals reflects the incredible momentum behind youth padel in the Americas,” said Gabriel Perez-Krieb, USPA Vice President and Padel America Board Member. “Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the vision and cooperation of Padel America, Taktika Padel, and the USPA. We are all focused on the future and developing opportunities for juniors to learn, compete, and dream on a global stage.”
American Pair’s Make Their Mark
The United States fielded competitive teams across all three age divisions, 14U, 16U, and 18U, each displaying exceptional spirit, discipline, and determination throughout the weekend.
18 & Under Division
Boys – Abraham Noah Jakubowicz Murcian (Miami, FL) and Jaden Anderson Jordan (The Woodlands, TX)
Girls – Emma Avina (San Antonio, TX) and Julianna Cobo Basave (Mexico City, MX)
16 & Under Division
Boys – Camilo Velasco Franco (Puebla, MX) , Pablo Avina (San Antonio, TX), Santiago Castro Varela (Spring, TX), and Santiago Hernandez Ochoa (Key Biscayne, FL).
14 & Under Division
Boys – Matias Esteban Vazquez (Houston, TX), and Nicolas Adiputra Darmohusodo (San Diego, CA), Alejandro Kalil (Chicago, IL), and Diego de la Cruz (Mission, TX),
Girls – Emma Cantu (Piedras Negras, MX) and Roberta Berlanga (San Antonio, TX)
Podium Performances
Bronze Medal – Boys 14U:
Alejo Kalil and Diego de la Cruz captured third place in a thrilling comeback victory, winning 4–6, 7-6, 6–3.
“Alejo and Diego showed incredible maturity and fight throughout the tournament,” said Jaume Rouillon, USA Junior National Team Coach. “They handled pressure with composure well beyond their years and proved that American Juniors can compete with the best in the region.”
Silver Medal – Girls 14U:
Emma Cantu and Roberta Berlanga earned an impressive runner-up finish, reaching the final and securing silver.
Both pairs demonstrated composure, skill, and resilience beyond their years, solidifying the U.S. as a rising force in junior padel.
“This event was an incredible experience for our players and a major step forward for junior padel in the United States,” said Lorena Rouillon, USA Junior Team Coach. “Competing against the best young athletes from across the Americas gave our team valuable experience and confidence. The progress we’ve seen, both on and off the court, shows that the future of American padel is in very good hands.”
The success of the Padel America Junior Circuit Finals was made possible through the leadership and dedication of Ryan Redondo, Mike Erwin, and the Taktika Event Management team, alongside the operations team from Padel America, whose coordination and event management ensured an excellent experience for players, coaches, and families.
“It was incredible to have the Padel America Junior Circuit Finals here in the United States and to see such enthusiasm from players, families, and fans,” said Leticia Martínez-Bordiu, USPA Board Member and USA Team Delegate. “Having Jorge Maña, President of Padel America, present at the event underscored the shared commitment to growing padel across the region. His support, along with the collaboration between Padel America, Taktika Padel, and the USPA, made this tournament a true celebration of how far the sport has come, and where it’s headed next.”
As the first year of the Padel America Junior Circuit concludes, its impact is already being felt across the region. The program provided young players not only with competitive match experience but also with the chance to build friendships and gain exposure to international play.
For the United States, the event reinforced the progress being made in developing homegrown talent capable of competing at the highest levels of competition. With new opportunities emerging through the USPA Junior Pathway and events like this circuit, the future of junior padel in the Americas looks brighter than ever.