The Veneto Padel Cup made a striking entrance onto the international padel scene with a high-profile presentation in Treviso that immediately positioned the tournament as one of the most ambitious projects in the sport. Featuring elite athletes, football legends, media personalities, and global sports icons, the launch event set the tone for what would become a landmark competition in the world of padel.
A High-Profile Presentation in Treviso
The official presentation of the Veneto Padel Cup took place over two days in Treviso, bringing together some of the most recognizable names in professional padel and international sport.
The event was designed not only as a tournament announcement but also as a celebration of padel itself—highlighting its rapid growth, cultural appeal, and increasing global relevance.
From the very beginning, the project positioned itself as a premium international competition with a strong connection to the Veneto region.
A Star-Studded Exhibition Featuring Global Padel Icons
The launch event featured an exhibition format where top-ranked padel professionals competed in friendly matches, creating a showcase of elite talent and entertainment.
Among the participating players were some of the most influential figures in modern padel, including:
- Juan Martín Díaz
- Miguel Lamperti
- Gonzalo Rubio
- Jorge Nieto Ruiz
- Ernesto Moreno
- María José Sánchez Alayeto
- María Pilar Sánchez Alayeto
- Carolina Navarro
- Cecilia Reiter
- Simone Cremona
- Marcelo Capitani
- Chiara Pappacena
- Giulia Sussarello
- Martina Lombardi
The exhibition matches produced highly competitive and entertaining play, with Miguel Lamperti and Simone Cremona standing out in the men’s event, while María Pilar Sánchez Alayeto and Giulia Sussarello secured victory in the women’s competition.
The presence of such a strong lineup reinforced the international credibility of the tournament even before its official competitive debut.
When Sport Meets Celebrity Culture
Adding to the spectacle, the event also welcomed well-known figures from football, motorsport, media, and entertainment, transforming the presentation into a broader cultural event rather than a purely sporting one.
Among the guests and participants were:
- Marco Materazzi
- Gianluca Zambrotta
- Giancarlo Fisichella
- Nicolò De Devitiis
- Stefano Corti
- Federica Masolin
- Anna Safroncik
- Veronica Ruggeri
- Bianca Atzei
Their participation reflected the growing popularity of padel beyond traditional sporting circles, turning the launch into a high-profile crossover event.
Media Presence and Special Guests
The two-day presentation was hosted and animated by the well-known radio duo Andrea & Michele from Radio Deejay, who guided the audience through the exhibition matches and behind-the-scenes moments.
A special highlight was the presence of NBA legend Šarūnas Marčiulionis, adding an international basketball connection to the event and further elevating its prestige.
A Vision for a New International Tournament
Beyond the entertainment and exhibition matches, the presentation served a clear purpose: introducing the vision of a new international padel competition rooted in Veneto.
The Veneto Padel Cup was officially designed as a multi-level tournament combining professional and amateur participation, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and international expansion.
The concept aimed to create a unique sporting platform where elite athletes and emerging players could coexist within the same event structure.
The First Edition: A Multi-City Tournament Format
The inaugural edition of the Veneto Padel Cup was structured as a week-long event spread across several cities in the Veneto region.
Tournament categories included:
- Open Tournament (Men’s and Women’s draws)
- Open to players outside the top 300 in the world rankings
- Master Tournament (Men’s and Women’s draws)
- Reserved for players ranked between 50 and 300
- Excluding top 49 players in the world rankings
This dual-structure format allowed both professional-level athletes and ambitious amateurs to compete within the same overarching competition system.
Host Cities and Venues
The tournament was distributed across several key locations in Veneto, each hosting different stages of competition:
- Padova – Club Limena (Men’s Open draw)
- Castelfranco – Urban Padel (Women’s Open draw)
- Treviso – Padel 0422 (Women’s Master draw)
- Treviso – Sporting Life Center (Men’s Master draw)
The semifinals and finals were planned to be held in a single central venue, depending on organizational and regulatory conditions, creating a unified climax for all categories.
Prize Money That Redefined Expectations
One of the defining elements of the Veneto Padel Cup was its unprecedented prize structure for Italian padel at the time.
Prize distribution:
- Open Tournament: €20,000 total prize pool
- Master Tournament: €80,000 total prize pool
Both categories featured equal distribution between men’s and women’s draws, reinforcing the tournament’s commitment to balance and inclusivity.
At the time of its introduction, these figures represented some of the highest prize pools ever offered in Italian padel competitions.
Official Recognition and Sporting Structure
The Veneto Padel Cup was affiliated with FIT (Italian Tennis Federation), although results did not contribute to official ranking points in FIT, WPT, or FIP systems.
Despite this, the tournament quickly gained attention due to its scale, organization, and international player participation.
Social Responsibility: Partnership with Dynamo Camp
A key component of the Veneto Padel Cup identity was its commitment to social impact.
The event supported Fondazione Dynamo Camp Onlus, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adolescents with chronic illnesses and their families.
The initiative included:
- Direct involvement of families in event activities
- Donation of a portion of ticket revenue
- Support for inclusion-based sporting experiences
This added a strong humanitarian dimension to the tournament, aligning sport with social responsibility.
Ambassadors and Brand Support
The tournament was supported by a group of official ambassadors representing the top level of Italian padel, including:
- Marcelo Capitani
- Simone Cremona
- Giulia Sussarello
- Chiara Pappacena
These athletes, all national champions, helped promote the event and reinforce its credibility within the professional circuit.
The tournament also attracted sponsorship from internationally recognized brands across multiple sectors, including:
- Acqua Panna & San Pellegrino
- Casoni
- Duca di Dolle
- Fisiocrem & Aquilea
- VilleVenete
- Wilson
- Zurich (Vittorio Veneto agency)
Their involvement highlighted the commercial and international potential of the event from its earliest stages.
A New Era for Padel in Veneto
From its official presentation, the Veneto Padel Cup positioned itself as more than just a tournament. It became a statement of intent—a project designed to elevate padel in Italy while connecting it to the broader international sports ecosystem.
By combining elite athletes, celebrity involvement, multi-city organization, and strong social values, the event laid the foundation for what would become one of the most ambitious padel initiatives in Europe.
Final Reflection
The launch of the Veneto Padel Cup represented a turning point for the sport in the region. It successfully merged entertainment, professional competition, and international visibility into a single concept.
What began as a presentation in Treviso quickly evolved into a structured international tournament with long-term ambitions, setting a new benchmark for how modern padel events can be built and experienced.