Stupaczuk and Sanz Top Seeds at FIP Platinum Lyon

Stupaczuk and Sanz Claim Top Seeding on Late Entry

Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz have been confirmed as the men's top seeds at the FIP Platinum Lyon 2026, set for 21-27 September at the Palais des Sports de Gerland. The Argentine-Spanish partnership — who took the FIP Silver title in Belgrade earlier this season — entered the Lyon draw later than most rivals but ranked high enough to claim the top billing. Their presence at a FIP Platinum event rather than the Premier Padel tier reflects the strategic scheduling patterns of the mid-ranking top-20, particularly with 300 Race to Barcelona points on offer at Gerland.

The men's draw also features Di Nenno/Tello, Guerrero/Leal and Gonzalez/Campagnolo among the top contenders, giving the event a competitive depth that belies the absence of the circuit's absolute elite. Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia — Paris Major champions for the third consecutive year as of 13 September — are not entered, nor are Galán and Chingotto. The thinned upper half creates genuine opportunity for the next tier down.

Salazar and Osoro Lead the Women's Field

In the women's draw, Alejandra Salazar and Aranza Osoro enter as the number-one seeds. Salazar, among the most decorated players on the FIP circuit, arrives in Lyon as a clear favourite. The second seed is Alejandra Alonso partnered with Giulia Dal Pozzo, who represent the most credible challenge to Salazar and Osoro if the seedings hold through the bracket.

Seventh-seeded Alix Collombon provides the home crowd with a realistic contender capable of running deep into the draw. The French player, backed by the partisan Gerland audience, will be among the most-watched competitors of the week. Sixteen French women have qualified for the main draw overall — a record for a FIP Platinum event on French soil — with Merah/Dardaine entering through direct qualification and Anaise/Vichier and Messina/Pellegrinelli securing places via the lucky-loser draw.

Race to Barcelona: the Autumn's Key Points Haul

The Race to Barcelona context makes Lyon one of the most tactically significant events of the autumn. As of this week, 13 players have secured their places at the season-ending FIP Finals among the 32-strong field; 19 spots remain open. Lyon's 300-point allocation is among the largest single-event prizes still available before the Finals, meaning pairings hovering just outside the qualification positions will approach every match as a must-win scenario.

Nine French men have also qualified for the main draw, including Dylan Guichard, Thomas Leygue and the wild-card entry of Guichard/Vives. For the domestic field, a run to the quarterfinals or beyond would represent both a meaningful Race points haul and significant exposure at one of the season's flagship domestic events.

Format and Schedule

Qualifying rounds take place Monday and Tuesday (21-22 September), with the main draw opening Wednesday 23 September. Quarterfinals are scheduled Friday 25 September, semifinals Saturday 26, and finals Sunday 27 September. Total prize money is €130,000 across both draws. All matches are available live via the FIP YouTube channel. The Lyon venue last held a FIP Platinum event in 2025, with this edition benefiting from the momentum generated by the Paris Major's record 81,000 spectators at Roland-Garros a fortnight earlier.