SOUTH AFRICA TO WELCOME ELITE INTERNATIONAL PADEL FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PRETORIA P2 TICKETS GO ON SALE

The fastest-growing sport in the world is set to arrive in South Africa this July with its first official international tournament. The world’s best Padel players will compete at the Pretoria Premier Padel P2, taking place at SunBet Arena at Time Square from 26 July to 2 August 2026, with FIP Ranking points on the line as part of the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, the sport’s leading global circuit.

Tickets for the tournament are now on sale to the public via Ticketmaster, providing fans with the opportunity to secure their seats for what promises to be the most significant padel event ever staged in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The announcement marks a major milestone for the sport in Africa, following the initial confirmation in December 2025 that Pretoria would host its first-ever Premier Padel event as part of the global Premier Padel calendar, governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP). The arrival of Premier Padel in South Africa reflects the continued international expansion of the sport and its growing popularity across key global markets.

Padel is already experiencing strong momentum in the country, with around 450 clubs, more than 1,400 courts and an estimated 500,000 amateur players nationwide, according to the latest data from FIP Research & Data Analysis Department.

In addition to hosting elite international talent, the event will also provide meaningful opportunities for South African players through wildcard entries and qualification pathways. This ensures that local athletes are integrated into the global professional ecosystem and supports the long-term development of padel in the region.

The tournament will be streamed globally on Red Bull TV, the official broadcast and streaming partner of Premier Padel, reaching audiences in over 180 countries. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, ESPN Africa (available on DStv Channel 218 and StarTimes 248) will deliver full live coverage of the tournament, with the broadcast also being available on the ESPN linear channels on Disney+ in South Africa. Furthermore, the tournament will also be carried on Canal+ (French speaking only platform). This multi-platform broadcast strategy ensures both global reach and deep regional penetration, bringing world-class padel to millions of viewers.

Primedia Sport, the sports division of Primedia, will act as the official promoter of the tournament. The organisation will be responsible for the delivery, commercialisation, and fan engagement strategy, reinforcing its commitment to building sustainable sports properties across Africa.

Tobie Badenhorst, Vice President of Primedia Sport, said: “The official launch of the Pretoria Premier Padel P2 represents a defining moment for South African sport. He noted that hosting a world-class event at the SunBet Arena at Time Square not only delivers a premium experience for fans, partners, and broadcasters, but also creates meaningful opportunities for local players to compete on the global stage.

Kyle de Klerk, Director of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Africa, said: “We are excited to be adding the Pretoria Premier Padel event to ESPN Africa’s premium sports offering. ESPN proudly showcases the very best live and studio sports programming from the US and around the world and, with this addition, fans can look forward to another world-class sporting event.”

Primedia Sport is proud to present the Pretoria Premier Padel P2 in collaboration with a world-class lineup of global and local partners, including Heineken 0.0 (Official Global Beer Partner) and Bullpadel (Official Clothing, Racket & Ball Partner), alongside leading technical and infrastructure partners Mejorset (Official Court Partner) and Mondo (Official Turf Partner), as well as Playtomic (Official Padel Booking Partner). The event is further supported by 947 (Official Radio Partner), Bitexen (Official Crypto Partner), Sun International (Official Hotel Partner), and SunBet (Official Gaming Partner), collectively forming a powerful ecosystem of partners to deliver a premium, globally competitive padel experience in South Africa.