Abu Dhabi, 19 February 2023: The Qualification Round for the World Padel Tour Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master 2023, held from February 18 -20, kicked off in style at Hudayriyat Island’s premier sports village, 321 Sports. 

 

With a busy first day, the qualification round will narrow down 64 male teams and 32 female teams to the final set of 4 male teams and 4 female teams respectively, that will advance to the Main Draw of the WPT Master tournament as fans around the world eagerly await the official start of the WPT 2023 season.

 

A very positive mix of competitive GCC players and top-ranked international players was found competing across the 321 Sports’ custom-built state-of-the-art padel courts. Two knockout stages played out, solely for the men, which made for some compelling action. A proportion of byes and an official walkover helped shape the competition for the later match-ups.

 

In front of numerous spectators, the battle commenced at 10am, with a buzzing atmosphere amidst an array of different sporting activities taking place at 321 Sports, including cycling, basketball, volleyball, and track training.

 

Of the wild cards that emerged from the UAE Wild Card Championship pre-tournaments, Emirati team of Naser Al Ketbi and Mubarak Al Ketbi lost 0-6/1-6 to young Spaniards Jesus Moya and Francisco Guerrero. Elsewhere, the Spanish-Argentinian UAE-based duo of Ignacio G Gadea and Martin Noschese fell 2-6/1-6 to the team of veteran two-time WPT Challenger tournament winner Alvara Cepero and Catalan Arnau Ayats.

 

The presence of the UAE’s fast-growing padel community is definitely one of promise. However, Emirati padel personalities Salem Alhouli and Saeed Al Marri came unstuck 1-6/1-6 against Spanish Sergio Nieto and Juan A Magan, ranked at 233 and 277 by the WPT, respectively.

 

The day saw Abdullah Ahmed Ahli, together with Abu Dhabi’s own Iranian-German Navid Fahandezh, fighting immensely well but eventually defeated 2-6/2-6 by Spanish duo Rodrigo Coello and Pablo Castillo, both of the latter ranked in the early hundreds by World Padel Tour.

 

Sunday will see women’s qualifiers kick off and the men’s tournament continue with their round of 16. 

 

The Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master 2023, will witness 128 of the world’s top players compete at Bab Al Nojoum on Hudayriyat Island from February 21-26. The padel stars will be battling for a share of the €250,000 prize, as well as the highest points ever awarded in WPT history.

 

Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with Global MICE Organisation Limited (GMOL Events), this tournament will also mark the first World Padel Tour tournament to be held in Abu Dhabi and the only Master tournament that will be held in the Middle East for the next five years.