South Africa’s sporting landscape is about to welcome another global spectacle as the world’s leading professional padel players descend on Pretoria for a tournament that marks a significant moment for the sport’s growth on the continent.
For the first time, South African fans will be able to watch the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour live from local soil when ESPN broadcasts the Premier Padel P1 Pretoria tournament from 27 July to 2 August. Hosted at the SunBet Arena at Time Square, the event forms part of the international Premier Padel calendar and represents a major step forward in bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports to South African audiences.
The arrival of Premier Padel in Pretoria highlights the sport’s rapid rise in popularity across the globe. Combining elements of tennis and squash, padel has become one of the most accessible and exciting racket sports, attracting millions of players and spectators worldwide. The Pretoria tournament now places South Africa firmly on the international padel map while providing local fans with the opportunity to witness the sport’s elite competitors in action.
Beyond the international stars expected to compete, the event also creates opportunities for South African players through wildcard entries and qualification pathways, allowing homegrown talent to test themselves against some of the best athletes in the world.
ESPN will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the tournament, ensuring fans can follow every major moment as the competition unfolds.
Coverage begins with the opening rounds on Monday, 27 July from 17:00. First-round action continues on Tuesday, 28 July and Wednesday, 29 July from 09:00, before the tournament moves into the Round of 16 on Thursday, 30 July from 10:00.
The intensity ramps up further on Friday, 31 July with the quarter-finals, also beginning at 10:00. Semi-final action takes place on Saturday, 1 August, with the women’s semi-final scheduled for 13:00 and the men’s semi-final at 17:00.
The tournament concludes on Sunday, 2 August, when the women’s final takes place at 13:00, followed by the men’s final at 15:00.
Alongside live television coverage, fans can also stay connected through ESPN Africa’s digital platforms, where tournament updates, highlights and behind-the-scenes content will provide additional insight into the action from Pretoria.
The tournament’s arrival reflects the growing appetite for padel across South Africa, where courts continue to emerge in cities around the country as more players discover the fast-paced and social nature of the sport.
With international stars, local representation and a world-class stage at the SunBet Arena, Premier Padel P1 Pretoria promises to deliver a landmark week for South African sport and an opportunity for fans to experience one of the most exciting developments in the global sporting landscape.
Fans can watch the action live on ESPN (DStv Channel 218 and StarTimes 248) and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219 and StarTimes 249). ESPN channels are also available through Disney+ in South Africa.
For updates, schedules and tournament news, visit ESPN Africa.
