Main Draw (Cuadro Principal)

The main draw is where the real action starts. All those qualifying battles, all that ranking-point accumulation throughout the season — it all leads here, to the primary bracket where the tournament champion is crowned.

What It Is

The main draw — "cuadro principal" in Spanish — is the primary bracket of a padel tournament. It's the stage where seeded pairs, direct entries, qualifiers, and wild cards all collide in a single-elimination format. Win and advance. Lose and go home. From the first round through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, the main draw is the tournament proper.

In professional padel, making the main draw of a major event is an achievement in itself. It means you're competing among the best pairs in the world, with ranking points and prize money on the line from the very first match.

How Pairs Get In

There are three routes into a main draw:

Direct entry is the most common path. Pairs ranked high enough on the Premier Padel rankings automatically qualify for the main draw. The cutoff ranking depends on the tournament's size and tier — a Major with a 32-pair draw accepts more direct entries than a P2 with 24 pairs.

Qualifying rounds provide the second path. Pairs that don't quite make the direct entry cutoff compete in preliminary rounds (the "previas") for a set number of remaining spots. Survive the qualifying gauntlet and you've earned your place.

Wild cards are the third route. Tournament organizers award a limited number of wild card entries, typically to local players, up-and-coming talents, or notable names who might be returning from injury. Wild cards add unpredictability and local flavor to the draw.

The Bracket Structure

Main draws follow standard elimination bracket formats with seedings. Top-ranked pairs are seeded to prevent them from meeting in early rounds — you won't see the world number one and number two pair in a first-round matchup. Draw day is a big deal on tour, as pairs analyze their potential path and identify tough early-round matchups.

Prize Money and Points

Ranking points and prize money increase with each round. A first-round exit earns points and money, but reaching the quarterfinals earns significantly more, and the final and title the most. For mid-ranked pairs, the difference between a first-round loss and a quarterfinal appearance can be massive for their season ranking and future direct entry status.