The PPL Releases New League Team Standings with the Los Angeles BEAT taking the Top Spot Followed by the Miami Padel Club, Las Vegas Smash and Flowrida Goats
The Pro Padel League (PPL), North America’s first and only professional padel league, is thrilled to share that the Miami Padel Club and Los Angeles BEAT were victorious in the first two events of the 2024 PPL seasoner opener. Taking place at the ULTRA CLUB in Miami from April 2nd-April 7th with all ten teams in action, the PPL showcased exhilarating competition from the world’s best professional padel players including two players ranked no. 1 in the world and 11 players ranked top five in the world.
In the 2024 PPL season opener, the Miami Padel Club captured the first event of the year in their hometown defeating the 2023 defending champions, the Las Vegas Smash, with a resounding 2-0 victory. In front of a sold-out crowd at the ULTRA CLUB, the Miami women’s duo featuring world no. 1 Ariana Sanchez Fallada and her partner Marta Talavan, secured a straight-set victory 7-6, 6-3 over Marta Ortega/Alejandra Alonso de Villa. Following suit, the Miami men’s team including world no. 4 Augustin Tapia and partner Jon Sanz defeated Las Vegas’ Gonzalo Alfonso/Pablo Huerta decisively 6-3, 6-3. Taking third place in the first week’s event were the New York Atlantics (making their debut this season) who defeated the Toronto Polar Bears 2-0.
“Congratulations to the Miami Padel Club and the Los Angeles BEAT on their respective victories in our opening two events of the season,” said Marcos del Pilar, PPL Commissioner. “The atmosphere in Miami was electric, and the competition was extraordinary. The world’s top padel players engaged in thrilling and competitive matches, treating fans onsite and watching at home to a couple of incredible weeks of action.”
In the PPL’s second week-long event, the Los Angeles BEAT made a strong comeback performance from week one advancing to the final after defeating the Toronto Polar Beats in the semifinals in the deciding mixed doubles tiebreaker. Facing the BEAT in the final were the Flowrida Goats who also prevailed from the week two round robin matches at the ULTRA CLUB to advance to the semifinals where they topped the Arkansas Matrix decisively 2-0.
In Sunday’s final, the BEAT’s men’s doubles team featuring world no. 5 Tolito Aguirre/Javi Leal defeated the Goats’ men’s duo Pablo Lijo/Victor Ruiz in straight sets 7-6, 6-4. In the women’s doubles action, Eli Amatrain and world no. 8 Jessica Castello of the BEAT went the distance with the Goats’ women’s team Maria Sanchez Alayeto/Aranzazu Osoro (no. 13 in the world) with the Goats’ taking the win in the deciding third set tiebreaker 3-6, 6-2, 10-7. With the championship coming down to another deciding mixed doubles matchup, Castello/Aguirre of the BEAT went up against mixed duo Lijo/Osoro of the Goats eventually defeating them 6-4 to capture the trophy for the BEAT. In the playoff for third and fourth place, the Matrix defeated the Polar Bears in a deciding third set tiebreaker.
Following the first two events in Miami, the PPL released the new League standings with the Los Angeles BEAT taking the top spot. The detailed standings are as follows:
- Los Angeles BEAT
- Miami Padel Club
- Las Vegas Smash
- Flowrida Goats
- Arkansas Matrix
- New York Atlantics
- Toronto Polar Bears
- Houston Volts
- San Diego Stingrays
- Cancun Waves
In addition to the thrilling on-court action showcasing the game’s powerhouses from around-the-world, the first two PPL events of the year brought out some of Miami’s hottest celebrities including the “King of Reggaeton” Daddy Yankee (Flowrida Goats owner) and multi-platinum reggaeton artist Gente de Zona who were seen courtside at the ULTRA CLUB.
“The buzz surrounding the PPL’s innovative approach to padel was unmistakable during our opening events,” said del Pilar. “We remain dedicated to expanding the sport’s presence throughout North America. While we are still in the early stages, the PPL and our ten teams offer appealing opportunities for brands seeking to connect with our growing audience and tap into the global appeal of padel.”
Coming up next, the last two PPL regular season events are set to be held in Southern California from August 12-17 and August 19-24 with more information on the venues to be announced this spring. Following the regular season events, the top eight teams in the PPL standings will advance to play in the PPL Cup Final in New York at the end of 2024.