This month, a sold-out crowd filled the stands for the PPL’s first All-Star Game at Taktika Padel located at the award-winning Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California.
Showcasing the world’s, and PPL’s, best padel players, the Eastern Conference battled the Western Conference in an exciting three matches – men’s doubles, women’s doubles and a deciding mixed doubles set – that was broadcasted live around the world on T2, the Tennis Channel’s live streaming network.
Headlining the Eastern Conference team this year was Cata Tenorio (Arkansas Matrix, four-time World Team Champion representing Argentina and former FIP #1), Nico Agritelley (Arkansas Matrix, PPL 2023 MVP, No. 2 ranked player in the U.S.), Ruben Rivera (Miami Padel Club, No. 72 FIP ranking), and Anna Cortiles (Cancun Waves, No. 93 WPT ranking).
On the Western Conference Team, their roster included Guga Vasquez (Las Vegas Smash, 2023 PPL Team Champions), Silvana Campus (San Diego Stingrays, No. 1 ranked Argentinian player and five-time World Team Champion representing Argentina), Dani Banchero (Los Angeles Beat, former No. 1 ranked Argentinian player and three-time World Team Champion representing Argentina), and Jacob Blanco (San Diego Stingrays, No. 4 ranked player in the U.S.).
Prior to the start of the first All-Star match, an exhibition match took place between Houston Volts player Pablo Garcia and his partner, Houston’s Sport Advisor, and former World No. 1, Juani Mieres, who defeated former 14-time World No. 1, and New York Atlantic’s player, Juan Martin Diaz, and his partner former World No. 2, and San Diego Stingrays player, Miguel Lamperti, 8-5.
Shortly following this, in the first All-Star Game match, Western Conference duo Guga Vazquez and Jacabo Blanco defeated Western Conference men’s team Nico Agritelley and Ruben Rivera in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. Making a strong comeback for the Eastern Conference was the women’s doubles team Cata Tenorio and Anna Cortilles who defeated Western Conference duo Daniela Banchero and Silvana Campus decidedly 6-3, 6-4.
With the All-Star Game coming down to the deciding mixed doubles set, it was the Eastern Conference who prevailed with Ruben Rivera and Anna Cortilles defeating Guga Vazquez and Sylvana Campus in a close set 6-4.
In addition to live broadcast on T2, the Tennis Channel will air the All-Star Game on television around the world. Check back for more updates on the air date!