Three Days to Taranto: Padel's Mediterranean Games Debut

Taranto Opens Friday with History on the Line

In three days, padel will contest its first medals in Mediterranean Games history. The competition at the newly built Parco del Mediterraneo Salinella in Taranto, Italy runs from August 22 to 28, with men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles all on the program. The venue is a purpose-built permanent facility constructed specifically for the Games and designed to remain active as a development hub for padel in the Puglia region after competition ends.

A total of 88 athletes from 18 nations have confirmed their entries — the largest padel field ever assembled for a Mediterranean multi-sport event. The first medals will be awarded on August 28, with the men's gold medal match serving as the closing event of the padel program.

Spain Arrives as Heavy Favourite

Spain fields an eight-player delegation that covers both ends of the career spectrum. On the women's side, Lucía Sainz and Patty Llaguno — both former world number ones — head the squad alongside Jimena Velasco and Nuria Rodríguez. The men's complement of David Galá (world 34), Pol Hernández, Guille Collado and José Diestro is equally formidable. Spain has historically dominated multi-sport padel events, and Taranto is widely expected to follow that pattern across all three disciplines.

Italy Targets the Podium on Home Courts

For Italy, competing as host nation raises the stakes. Carolina Orsi enters ranked 31st in the world, while 21-year-old Giulia Dal Pozzo arrives at number 30 — one of the most discussed young players on the women's circuit this season. Marco Cassetta and Giorgia Marchetti lead the rest of the Italian squad. A home-court environment in August, the southern Italian heat and the energy of the local crowd could prove decisive in tight mixed doubles matches where Italy fancies its chances most.

France's squad — highlighted last week ahead of the event — presents a genuine threat in the mixed draw. Portugal brings siblings Sofia and Pedro Araújo, along with brothers Miguel and Nuno Deus, who finished second at the 2025 FIP Euro Padel Cup. Two further stories stand out: Tunisia's Dora Chamli, described by the FIP as the first African player to win a match on the Premier Padel world circuit, and Monaco's Noah Minioni, aged 14, the youngest competitor across all three draws.

Schedule, Streaming and Broader Context

Matches from Taranto will be streamed live on the FIP YouTube channel. The mixed doubles and women's finals precede the men's gold medal match on August 28, giving the final day a graduated intensity from first medal to last.

Taranto is the opening chapter of an exceptionally busy multi-sport autumn for padel. The South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina (September 12–26), the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya (September 19–October 4) and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh (December 13–21) all feature padel medal events, making 2026 the most active year the sport has ever had in the institutional calendar. The European Games in Istanbul (2027) will extend the run further. On Friday evening, however, the conversation begins with Taranto and a first Mediterranean Games gold medal.