Romania is set to host its most significant padel event to date as the FIP Gold Bucharest tournament kicks off this week at the Nastase and Marica Sports Club. This landmark event marks the seventh FIP Gold tournament of the season, offering 150 ranking points to the winning pairs across a venue featuring 12 professional courts.
Tournament Favorites and Structure
The competition features a high-caliber field, with top-tier talent looking to secure crucial ranking points. The men’s draw is headlined by David Gala and Enzo Jensen, who arrive in Bucharest fresh from their appearance at the Paris Major. Meanwhile, the women’s draw is led by Lucia Martinez, a recent FIP Gold San Luis champion, and Letizia Manquillo, who has enjoyed a prolific season with multiple FIP Silver and Bronze titles. In addition to the professional field, the event will provide local Romanian players with valuable experience through wild-card entries.
The tournament features several high-profile pairs competing for the title:
- Men’s Top Seeds: David Gala and Enzo Jensen lead the field, followed by the second-seeded duo of Pablo Lijó and Xisco Gil, and the third-seeded pair, Andres Fernandez Lancha and Denis Perino.
- Women’s Top Seeds: Lucia Martinez and Letizia Manquillo hold the top spot, trailed by Araceli Martinez and Laura Lujan as the second seeds, and Sandra Bellver and Ana Dominguez, who enter as the third seeds following their recent performance at the Paris Major.
The tournament schedule is set to run from Thursday through Sunday, providing a condensed and intense format for spectators:
- Thursday: The main draw begins with the first round of competition.
- Friday: The action continues with the round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
- Saturday: The semi-finals will determine which pairs advance to the championship matches.
- Sunday: The tournament concludes with the final matches.
Fans unable to attend the event in person can follow the action via the FIP YouTube channel, which will provide live streaming coverage for all matches played on the centre court.
