Chicago is becoming a familiar stop on the junior international padel calendar, and it’s back again. From May 29 to May 31, 2026, Padel Clube in Chicago, Illinois, will host the latest stop on the FIP Promises Tour, bringing together American juniors and international talent across three competitive age divisions.
Every match earns FIP Continental ranking points that feed directly into national team selection and international seeding. With a strong field already confirmed across the Boys U14, U16, and U18 draws, there’s a lot on the line this weekend.
“I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished at Padel Clube,” said club and tournament operator Rudi Kalil. “We are fully committed to helping junior players develop here in the USA, and hosting the first FIP Promises in 2025 showed the country what can be done when we actively promote junior competition. Hosting these international junior events is a foundational element for the future of U.S. padel, and we are honored to contribute to the competitive development and growth of the sport across the nation.”
Boys Under 14: Costantini and Benvenutto lead the draw
The U14 draw has a clear top seed. Santiago Costantini (USA) and Vitto Benvenutto (ARG) come in as the pair to beat. Benvenutto’s world ranking alone makes this one of the stronger U14 pairings at any domestic event this year.
The second seeds, Sebastian Hernandez Ochoa and Nicolas Darmohusodo, are both USA players with recent Promises experience. Hernandez Ochoa has been a consistent presence in these draws, and Darmohusodo brings solid results from earlier stops this season.
Marco Fuentes Davila (USA) teams with Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico as the third seeds. Fuentes Davila is one of the more technically complete U14 players in the American circuit, and Gonzalez adds international experience that could make this pairing difficult to handle deep in the bracket.
Further down the draw, more American players are represented, brothers Nicolas and Simon Herrera (both USA) compete as a pair, along with Wilder Anderson and Bode Nicol. The Rohde brothers, Benjamin and Arthur, are in the field as well, adding a family rivalry element that always produces entertaining padel.
Boys Under 16: De La Cruz and Chaul top a loaded field
The U16 draw is the strongest of the three boys categories. Diego De La Cruz (USA) and Jorge Chaul (USA) enter as the top seeds. Chaul has been one of the most active U16 players on the FIP Promises circuit this season, reaching the final at Miami in April before falling to the top seeds, Gibly and Bozzola. He and De La Cruz are the pair to watch.
Alejandro Kalil and Emiliano Antonio Gonzalez are seeded second. Kalil has built a consistent ranking across multiple Promises stops, and Gonzalez adds depth to what is already a competitive American contingent in this draw.
The third seed is a cross-border pairing: Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico teaming with Marco Fuentes Davila (USA). Fuentes Davila is pulling double duty across the U14 and U16 draws, which is allowed under FIP Promises rules. If he comes through the younger bracket in good form, he could be a factor here, too.
Sebastian Hernandez Ochoa and Nicolas Darmohusodo appear again in this draw as the sixth seeds. Nikolas Palacios, who competed in the U18 draw at Miami, enters as part of the fifth seed pairing alongside Elliot Malmrup of Sweden. Two wild card spots remain open, with Mexican pairs Paulo Miguel Gutierrez Martinez and Alan Mendoza Colin, as well as Juan Pablo Coaña Puc and Axel Mendoza Colin, filling those berths.
Boys Under 18: Castro Varela and Chaul headline the oldest draw
The U18 field is compact but competitive. Santiago Castro Varela (USA) and Jorge Chaul (USA) are the top seeds. Castro Varela is one of the highest-ranked American juniors in the U18 category, and Chaul, who is also playing in the U16 draw, would make history by winning both if the draws go his way.
The second seed pairing is the one to watch. Diego De La Cruz (USA) enters unranked in this age group but teams with Pablo Avina (USA), one of the top-ranked American juniors in the division. Avina was a top seed at Miami and reached the final in the U18 draw before falling to an unseeded Spanish pair in a hard-fought match. That run, combined with his ranking, makes him arguably the highest-ceiling player in this field.
Alejandro Kalil returns in this draw as well, seeded fourth alongside Emiliano Antonio Gonzalez. With six competitive pairs confirmed and two wild card spots still to be filled, the bracket should produce close matches throughout.
What’s at stake
FIP Promises events are the primary international ranking circuit for junior padel. Points earned here count toward the FIP Continental rankings, which determine seeding and selection for competitions, including the FIP Junior World Cup. For American players trying to build their international profile, getting results at domestic Promises stops is one of the most direct ways to do it.
Chicago has shown it can run these events well. Padel Clube has hosted FIP Promises before, and the familiarity with the format shows. American players know the courts, which is a small but real advantage when facing international competition.
Tournament details
Dates: May 29 – May 31, 2026 Venue: Padel Clube, 939 Tower Rd, Mundelein, IL 60060 Categories: Boys U14, U16, U18
Follow along as the draws unfold and American junior padel takes center stage again at Padel Clube. Full results will be available here.