The FIP World Cup 2026 has kicked off with a bang, as the Netherlands and Germany secured big wins on the first day of the men's tournament, while Argentina and Spain also got off to a strong start. The competition, held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, saw several national teams make a statement, highlighting the growing level of international padel and the narrowing gap between teams.
One of the most notable matches was between France and the Netherlands, which went down to the final match. The Dutch team emerged victorious, with Sten Richters and Thijs Roper beating Guichard/Fonteny 6-1 7-5, and Bart Van Opstal and Julian Prins securing the decisive point against Leygue/Blanqué, winning 6-4 1-6 6-3. This win showcases the rising level of the Netherlands team and sets the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Key Wins and Performances
Other notable results from Day 1 include:
- Argentina's dominant performance: The reigning men's world champions won all three ties against Australia, with Franco Stupaczuk and Fede Chingotto starting strong with a 6-1 6-1 win, followed by Leo Augsburger and Martin Di Nenno beating Zelba/Navarro without dropping a game, and Gonza Alfonso and Maxi Arce defeating Brown/Velickovic 6-1 6-0.
- Spain's 3-0 win over Sweden: Mike Yanguas and Aimar Goñi pushed through a tough match, winning 6-7 7-5 6-2, while Arturo Coello and Paquito Navarro and Juan Lebron with Jon Sanz also secured victories.
- Germany's comeback win over Chile: Christian Bohenke and Nick Merten came from behind to win 2-6 6-3 6-4, securing Germany's victory after Agustin Reca and Matthias Wunner and Javi Valdes and Cristobal Molina had earlier wins.
- Portugal's 3-0 win over Qatar: Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graça, Diogo Jesus and Pedro Perry, and the Deus brothers all secured wins for Portugal.
- Italy's strong start in Group D: Alvaro Montiel and Simone Cremona, Aris Patiniotis and Giulio Graziotti, and Marco Cassetta/Simone Iacovino all won their matches against the USA.
- Brazil's dominant performance over Mexico: Matheus De Avila Simonato and Joao Pedro Flores, Lucas Bergamini and Diogo Correa, and Julio Julianoti with Stefano Palma Flores all secured wins without dropping a tie.
These results demonstrate the growing competitiveness of international padel, with several national teams making a strong statement on the first day of the tournament. As the competition heats up, fans can expect more thrilling matches and surprises in the days to come.
