The US National Women’s Absolute Team leaves Doha in 11th place at the FIP World Cup 2026, a four-spot leap from its 15th-place finish two years ago on the same courts. Over six days at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex from November 2 to 7, the American women won three of their six ties, took rubbers off eventual fifth-place Portugal and sixth-place Netherlands, and introduced the world stage to 13-year-old prodigy Ornella Beltramino, who delivered victories with the composure of a seasoned veteran.

Head coach Richy Bailey brought an eight-player roster: Brittany Dubins, Marta Morga, Carla Rodriguez, Ornella Beltramino, Clementina Riobueno, Daniela Ruiz Alvarez, Dhany Quevedo and Ana Marija Zubori. Drawn into Group D with Portugal, the Netherlands and Paraguay, they faced two of Europe’s established powers from day one.

Beyond individual performances, lineup strategy played a significant role throughout the tournament. With three pairs competing in each tie, Bailey and his coaching staff carefully studied their opponents, adjusting pair combinations and playing order to create the most favorable matchups.

Day 1: A statement comeback against Portugal

The opener could not have been tougher. Clementina Riobueno and Daniela Ruiz Alvarez drew world top-10 star Sofia Araújo and veteran Patrícia Ribeiro, one of the strongest pairs in the field. The scoreboard told only part of the story, as the Americans stayed disciplined through long baseline exchanges and kept defending off the back glass against relentless pace.

The matchup was part of a deliberate tactical decision. Bailey chose a 3-1-2 lineup, sending his third-strongest pairing out first in the hope of drawing Portugal’s formidable top pair. The strategy worked exactly as intended, creating opportunities for the Americans in the remaining two matches.

The second rubber was a genuine battle. Brittany Dubins and Carla Rodriguez led in both sets against former world top-15 player Ana Catarina Nogueira and Aida Batlle Achando. They contested the net, manufactured break points, and matched Portugal stroke for stroke before falling.

Then came the moment of the day. Down a set to Alexandra Silva and Clarinha Santos, 13-year-old Ornella Beltramino and Marta Morga turned the match around under the Doha lights to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Beltramino’s fearless shotmaking and precise overheads meshed with Morga’s court management, and the comeback gave the United States its first rubber of the championships. Portugal would go on to finish fifth in the world.

Match results:

P. Ribeiro / S. Araujo def. C. Riobueno / D. Ruiz Alvarez: 6-0, 6-0

A. Batlle Achando / A. Nogueira def. B. Dubins / C. Rodriguez Sanchez: 6-4, 6-4

M. Morga Alonso / O. Beltramino def. A. Silva / C. Santos: 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

Day 2: Drawing first blood against the Group D winners

Dubins and Rodriguez set the tone immediately, routing the Dutch pairing of Marcella Koek and Tess De Vocht 6-1, 6-1. They owned the net and controlled every aerial exchange with crisp bandejas to put the United States 1-0 up against the team that would go on to top the group.

The Netherlands presented a different strategic challenge. With three well-balanced Dutch pairs and relatively little separating their levels, Bailey opted for a 1-3-2 lineup after careful analysis. The goal was to start with maximum strength and leave a competitive second pairing to fight for the potential deciding point. Once again, the opening matchup was exactly what the Americans had hoped for, producing a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Ruiz Alvarez and Ana Marija Zubori brought fierce defensive intensity to the second rubber, trading heavy blows with Maaike Betz and Liza Groenveld through a competitive opening set before the Netherlands pulled away to level the tie.

With everything on the line, Beltramino and Morga pushed Janine Hemmes and Bo Luttikhuis to the limit in a gripping 6-4 first set, recovering ball after ball off the glass, before the Dutch closed out the decider in the second.

Match results:

B. Dubins / C. Rodriguez Sanchez def. M. Koek / T. De Vocht: 6-1, 6-1

M. Betz / L. Groenveld def. D. Ruiz Alvarez / A. Zubori: 6-3, 6-0

J. Hemmes / B. Luttikhuis def. O. Beltramino / M. Morga Alonso: 6-4, 6-1

Day 3: A clean sweep of Paraguay

The Americans saved their most complete performance for the final group day. Rodriguez and Beltramino overwhelmed Fatima Yuri Kudo and Camila Miranda, controlling the center of the court with aggressive transition volleys.

Against Paraguay, the coaching staff shifted its approach again. Confident in the team’s overall strength, Bailey selected a straightforward 1-2-3 lineup, placing his strongest pairs first and second with the intention of securing the tie as early as possible. The strategy delivered a 2-0 lead, and the third pairing completed the sweep.

Dubins and Morga then delivered a near-flawless display of attacking padel, combining lethal smashes with suffocating net pressure to beat Olga Bareiro and Verónica Cepede Royg and clinch the tie.

Ruiz Alvarez and Riobueno capped the sweep in a hard-fought third rubber, breaking serve at key moments in each set to defeat Mariana Salsamendi and María Alejandra García 6-4, 6-4. The 3-0 win secured third place in Group D with a positive record of five rubbers won and four lost, and a seeded spot in the 9th-16th place playoffs.

Whilst this was the USA women’s strongest-ever performance in the group stage, with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses, the team finished the group stage only a matter of points from claiming second place in the group, which would have sent them through to the top-eight playoff.

Match results:

C. Rodriguez Sanchez / O. Beltramino def. F. Kudo Ykkatai / C. Miranda: 6-1, 6-2

B. Dubins / M. Morga Alonso def. O. Bareiro / V. Cepede Royg: 6-2, 6-0

D. Ruiz Alvarez / C. Riobueno def. M. Garcia Vera / M. Salsamendi Guggiari: 6-4, 6-4

The playoffs: grit, heart and a winning finish

Day 4 – An epic win over Chile (9th-16th place quarterfinal)

The knockout rounds opened with an epic. Beltramino and Rodriguez spent nearly two and a half hours on court against Catalina Arancibia and Kimberley Ahumada Carrasco, taking the first set 6-3, dropping the second 4-6 and holding their nerve to win the decider 6-4.

Having successfully used the 1-2-3 lineup against Paraguay, Bailey decided to maintain the same approach against Chile. The opening match proved much more demanding, with pressure and tension playing a major role, but the Americans held their nerve and secured the tie in two matches.

Dubins and Morga then closed the door with authority, beating Amalia Bentjerodt and Trinidad Del Real to send the Americans into the 9th-12th place semifinals. The win was sweet revenge: Chile had beaten the US team 2-1 in the 2024 placement rounds.

Match results:

C. Rodriguez Sanchez / O. Beltramino def. C. Arancibia / K. Ahumada Carrasco: 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

B. Dubins / M. Morga Alonso def. A. Bentjerodt Burgos / T. Del Real Bobadilla: 6-2, 6-0

Day 5 – Fighting through adversity against Great Britain (9th-12th place semifinal)

Great Britain required another tactical adjustment. After studying the British team, Bailey identified a particularly strong top pairing but also a potentially vulnerable third pair. He returned to a 1-3-2 lineup, looking to navigate the toughest matchups and create an opportunity to decide the tie in the third rubber.

Fortune turned on Friday. Dubins, the squad’s highest-ranked player, was hurt in just the first game of the opening rubber against Aimee Gibson and Victoria Nicholas. She and Rodriguez battled on through the first set before retiring at 1-6.

Ruiz Alvarez and Zubori responded with real fight, taking the first set 6-4 off Catherine Rose and British standout Chloe de la Mare before Britain rallied to win 1-6, 3-6 in the next two sets.

Despite the devastating injury to their captain, the Americans came within a few games of forcing a deciding third match. It was a painful reminder of how fine the margins can be in team competition, and how quickly an unexpected setback can change an entire strategy.

Match results:

A. Gibson / V. Nicholas def. B. Dubins / C. Rodriguez Sanchez: 6-1, RET

C. Rose / C. De La Mare def. D. Ruiz Alvarez / A. Zubori: 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

Day 6 – Finishing strong against Indonesia (11th place playoff)

The Americans finished the week the way champions do: with a win. Rodriguez and Beltramino, the most reliable pairing of the playoffs, beat Fitriani Sabatini and Fitriana Sabrina 6-2, 7-5.

With Dubins sidelined, the coaching staff faced one final lineup challenge. Bailey reshuffled his available players and placed Dhany Quevedo, who had yet to play a match in Doha, alongside Zubori in the second pairing. The adjustment paid off, demonstrating both the team’s depth and the importance of having every player ready to contribute.

Then Dhany Quevedo, making her debut on the final day, teamed with Zubori to defeat Ni Putu Armini and Johanna Nesya Rosejaya 7-5, 6-2 and seal 11th place in the world.

Match results:

C. Rodriguez Sanchez / O. Beltramino def. F. Sabatini / F. Sabrina: 6-2, 7-5

D. Quevedo / A. Zubori def. N. Armini / J. Rosejaya: 7-5, 6-2

A foundation to build on

Eleventh place is the clearest sign yet that the American women belong on padel’s biggest stage. They won three of six ties, won rubbers against two top-six nations, and leave Doha with a deep, flexible roster. Rodriguez and Beltramino emerged as a trusted playoff tandem, Dubins and Morga proved they can dominate, and every one of the eight players contributed. With a 13-year-old already winning World Cup rubbers, the future looks bright.

“This group showed what American padel is capable of on the world stage. Every player fought for each other all week, and finishing with a win tells you everything about their character. We’re proud of 11th, and we’re hungry for more.” – Head Coach Richy Bailey

Women’s Team

Marta Morga
Carla Rodriguez
Brittany Dubins
Clementina Riobueno
Daniela Ruiz Alvarez
Ana Marija Zubori
Ornella Beltramino
Dhany Quevedo

Delegate: Ana Magrini
Head Coach: Richy Bailey
Asst Coach: Mariana Talarico

Psycho Bunny proudly sponsors the US National Teams, which will compete in their custom-designed uniforms to represent the United States on the international stage.