AS the road to Pretoria Premier Padel P1 continues, South Africa’s next generation of padel talent took centre stage this weekend at Net Set Padel, Sandton City, where aspiring players and young athletes competed for the opportunity to be part of South Africa’s biggest professional padel tournament and the first Premier Padel event ever to be staged in the country
Taking place from 12–14 June, the Wildcard Tournament and official Ball Kid Trials brought together some of the country’s top emerging talent, creating a direct pathway for local players to qualify for Pretoria Premier Padel P1 and for young athletes to earn a place on the tournament’s ball kid team ahead of Africa’s leading professional padel event.
The Wildcard Tournament provided South African players with a rare opportunity to earn their place alongside some of the world’s best players at Pretoria Premier Padel P1.
Following an intensely competitive weekend, Linge Steenkamp and Zoe Kruger emerged victorious in the women’s division, defeating Marne Roos and Debbie van Aswegen 7-6, 6-4 in the final, securing their spot in the Pretoria Premier Padel P1 tournament Main Draw next month.
In the men’s division, Richard Ashforth and Luan Krige claimed the title with a hard-fought 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Adam Van Harte and Warren Kuhn. As the top three finishers, Ashforth and Krige, Van Harte and Kuhn, and Jason Blakey-Milner and Egmond van Heerden have all secured their places in the Pretoria Premier Padel P1 tournament Main Draw, where they will compete alongside some of the world’s leading players.
Roos and van Aswegen who finished second in the women’s division, Aidan Carrazedo and Tremayne Mitchell, who finished fourth, together with fifth-placed Jason Hewitt and Chevaan Davids, secured places in the tournament qualifiers and will have a further opportunity to earn their place in the main draw.
“This weekend represents far more than a qualification event; it is a reflection of the incredible momentum behind padel in South Africa. As we prepare to host the country’s first Premier Padel tournament, it is important that local players and young athletes have the opportunity to be part of that journey. This weekend demonstrated the depth of talent coming through the system and reinforces why South Africa is ready to host one of the most significant events on the global padel calendar,” says Tobie Badenhorst, Vice-President of Primedia Sport, and Official Tournament Promoter.
Alongside the on-court action, the official Ball Kid Trials showcased a different but equally important pathway into the sport. Young participants were evaluated on a range of attributes including court awareness, teamwork, focus, fitness, professionalism, and their ability to perform under pressure in a live tournament environment.
Following the trials on the 13th and 14th of June, the selection process has now been narrowed down, with a shortlist of promising candidates identified for the Pretoria Premier Padel P1 Ball Kid Programme. The final group of ball kids will be announced in the coming days before commencing their training ahead of Africa’s leading professional padel event.
“For many of these young participants, this is their first opportunity to experience an international sporting event from the inside. The ball kid programme creates a unique pathway for young people to develop confidence, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the sport. The enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism shown throughout the trials made the selection process incredibly rewarding, and we are proud to play a role in helping create memorable experiences for the next generation of padel ambassadors,” says Aadila Seedat, Founder of Padel Promises South Africa.
With the wildcard winners confirmed and the official ball kid team selected, attention now turns to Premier Padel Pretoria P1. As the world’s leading players prepare to descend on Pretoria from 26 July – 2 August 2026, South Africa is ready to welcome one of the biggest events ever staged on the African padel calendar, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth of the sport across the continent.
The event is expected to attract significant international attention, with global broadcast coverage available via Red Bull TV, ESPN Africa (DStv Channel 218, StarTimes 248), Disney+ in South Africa, and Canal+ for French-speaking territories.
Tickets are now available through Ticketmaster.
