Padel4Good set to deliver a high-octane Men's Elite event in Bree Street in March

The busy 2026 padel season is officially underway as clubs and brands across South Africa roll out packed league and tournament calendars, signalling what promises to be another landmark year for one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Over the past five years, padel has exploded locally — growing from fewer than 20 courts nationwide in 2020 to hundreds today. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban have emerged as major hubs, while South Africa’s international ambitions have also accelerated, with national teams now regularly competing in International Padel Federation events.

Among the early highlights of the new season, the Padel4Good tournament, in partnership with Racket and Ball Padel Club, returned with a bang this past weekend, hosting an electric mixed doubles showdown in the heart of Bree Street, Cape Town.

True to its mission, the sporting charity’s first event of 2026 not only delivered high-level competition but also continued its work empowering homes and organisations that support women and children at risk across the Western Cape through tournament proceeds and sponsorship.

Shaun Fraser and Michelle Collins emerged as the first Padel4Good champions of 2026, winning the mixed event, which catered for players rated between 2 and 5 on the Playtomic app.

For Fraser, it was a particularly meaningful milestone.

“I’ve played many of the P4G mixed tournaments, and I’m very happy for my playing partner and myself to have finally won one,” he said.

“It was fantastically put together, as always — very well organised and supported, with a great level of competition. The toughest games were the semi-final against Andrew and Natasha and the final against Michelle (van Staden) and Ryan (Stein).”

Fraser, who has been playing since the early days when Camps Bay had some of the country’s only courts, also highlighted how dramatically the sport has grown.

“The level of athleticism and skill has improved so much. It’s incredible to see how padel has taken off, especially in Cape Town.”

The tournament featured 16 teams competing in a round-robin format across four groups, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stages. A plate section ensured all teams continued competing throughout the day, maximising both playing time and enjoyment.

For Collins, the victory was the perfect reward in her first mixed Padel4Good appearance.

“It was fantastic to win — it was a really lovely tournament from start to finish, so the win at the end was an added bonus,” she said.

“This was my first mixed padel event, and not knowing many of the male players meant I didn’t have expectations. I was just there to have fun and hoped to have some competitive matches. All three of our knockout matches were hard-fought and could have gone either way.”

Collins, who only started playing padel in 2023 after a competitive tennis background, said the sport has reignited her passion for competition.

“Padel allowed me to get that competitive feeling back. It’s also introduced me to some fantastic players from squash, tennis and hockey backgrounds.”

She has also represented Cape Town in the popular Chiquita Cup inter-city competition and enjoyed success on the local circuit, including a ladies’ title at Atlantic Padel last year.

Beyond the competition, the event reinforced Padel4Good’s growing impact off the court.

Proceeds from the tournament went to Amazeballs Padel, a non-profit organisation that refurbishes used padel balls to fund community upliftment projects. Its latest initiative will see the installation of a playground structure at Goal50 in Heideveld, supporting early childhood development.

Padel4Good has already announced a full calendar for the remainder of 2026, including:

March — Men’s Elite Event May — Women’s Event June — Men’s Event July — Mixed Event

Next month’s Men’s Elite event is already sold out with players rated between 3.2 and 6.1 reflecting a surging demand.

This Elite event promises to be something to enjoy and fans and aspiring players are encouraged to come watch the event.

“We’re exploring something completely new. If it goes ahead, it will allow us to donate a significantly larger amount through a single event,” added P4G’s Kathleen Barker.

"Our partnership with Racket + Ball Padel Club has played a meaningful role in the growth of Padel4Good. Their ongoing support and generosity have allowed us to elevate our tournaments and, most importantly, increase the impact we can make. Thanks to this relationship, we are proud to be donating a significantly greater amount to charities in 2026.”

The local calendar is further boosted by several major tournaments across South Africa this year, including interprovincial competitions like the Chiquita Cup, International Federation-sanctioned events, and national leagues and elite club competitions across major cities.

These events form part of South Africa’s broader push to establish itself as a global padel destination, while grassroots initiatives like Padel4Good ensure the sport’s growth also delivers meaningful social impact.

If you are aware of any events taking place next month, please email [email protected].

IOL Sport