The CUPRA FIP Tour has arrived in Türkiye for the FIP Bronze Qnb Cup Izmir, bringing together top-tier talent for a weekend of high-stakes padel. Running from September 18 to September 20, the tournament features several standout pairs looking to add another trophy to their 2026 campaigns.
Tournament Favorites and Key Contenders
The men’s draw is headlined by two formidable pairs who have proven their dominance on the circuit throughout the year. Meanwhile, the women’s draw features a top-seeded duo looking to leverage their recent international success to secure a win in Izmir.
- Emilio Sanchez and Arnau Ayats: This pair enters the tournament with significant momentum, having secured back-to-back victories in Catalonia during August, where they claimed titles at both the FIP Silver and FIP Bronze levels.
- Fabian Oviedo and Marco Cassetta: Having already captured two titles as a team this year—the FIP Silver Jersey Island and the FIP Bronze Lelystad—they are major threats to the title. Notably, Marco Cassetta is currently tied for the all-time record for CUPRA FIP Tour titles, holding 16 victories alongside Flavio Abbate, Gonzalo Rubio, and Jose Luis Gonzalez.
- Simone Iacovino and Giulio Graziotti: A pair to watch closely as they compete for the top spot in the men’s bracket.
- Manuel Vives and Olivier Guy De Chamisso: Another duo identified as key contenders who could disrupt the tournament standings.
- Marcella Koek and Ana Varo: As the No. 1 seeds in the women’s draw, they bring extensive experience to the court. Koek has enjoyed a successful 2026 with wins at the FIP Silver Pingyuan and FIP Bronze events in Kuala Lumpur and Banten, while Varo arrives following her victory at the FIP Bronze Chieti in July.
- Catherine Rose and Rebeca Lopez: Seeded second, they serve as the primary rivals to Koek and Varo for the women’s title.
- Nika Sluzhiteleva and Maria Portillo: Entering as the No. 3 seeds, they are expected to be a significant factor in the progression of the women’s main draw.
- Ekaterina Nikitina and Natalia Molinilla: The No. 4 seeds round out the list of notable pairs to monitor as the competition unfolds this weekend.
The action officially kicks off on Friday, September 18. The tournament will culminate on Sunday, September 20, with the staging of the semi-finals and the grand finals.
