The professional padel circuit is entering new territory this week as Albania hosts a major international event for the first time. The FIP Platinum Albania is being staged in the heart of Tirana, with the iconic Skanderbeg Square transformed into an open-air arena for one of the most prominent tournaments on the FIP circuit. The event runs from May 26 to May 30 and features four outdoor courts set up in the city center, with free public access throughout the week.
The tournament underscores the growing importance of FIP Platinum events in the global padel landscape. With major prize money, valuable ranking points, and a strong field of top-level players, the competition has quickly become one of the most attractive stops outside Premier Padel. The setup in Tirana also adds a striking visual dimension, echoing other landmark city-center events such as Plaza Mayor in Valladolid and the Krakow square venue used during the 2023 European Games.
The men’s draw is headlined by Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas, the world’s fourth-ranked pair, whose participation gives the tournament exceptional prestige. Their presence in a FIP event outside Premier Padel is rare and highlights the growing pull of Platinum-level tournaments. They are joined by several other major names, including Jon Sanz and Coki Nieto, Martín Di Nenno and Jairo Bautista, Javi Leal and Fran Guerrero, and Edu Alonso with Aimar Goñi, alongside other competitive pairs from the secondary circuit.
In the women’s competition, Alejandra Salazar and Alejandra Alonso lead the field as top seeds, ahead of Marina Guinart and Verónica Virseda. The women’s draw is especially deep, with 14 players from the FIP top 30 taking part, promising a highly competitive week in Tirana.
Beyond the prestige, the tournament offers a significant reward system. The winners will collect 300 FIP points and share in a total prize purse of 150,000 euros. While that point total is still only half of what is awarded to the winners of a Premier Padel P2 event, the Platinum format can be strategically important for elite players seeking ranking gains in a setting that may offer less media pressure and, at times, more open draws. That balance between exposure, points, and sporting opportunity has made FIP Platinum events increasingly relevant in the calendar.
Several intriguing first-round matchups are already set to test the favorites. Stupaczuk and Yanguas open against José Diestro and Ignacio Piotto, a pair capable of playing aggressive padel in outdoor conditions that could favor fast exchanges. Di Nenno and Bautista will make their debut as a new partnership against qualifiers Naranjo and Sanchez Vicente, giving fans an early look at their chemistry. Sanz and Nieto face David Gala and Enzo Jensen in a potentially tighter contest than rankings might suggest.
Attention will also be drawn to the unexpected pairing of Maxi Arce and Álex Arroyo, who meet Garrido and Bergamini in a challenging opening round. With Arce’s creativity and Arroyo’s power, the duo could emerge as one of the tournament’s most intriguing combinations if they quickly find their rhythm.
The FIP Platinum Albania is not only a milestone for Albanian sport but also another sign of padel’s expanding global reach.
