Spain was hungry for elite padel after last year’s controversy left Gijón feeling hollow. The 2026 edition promised redemption — until missiles over Dubai reminded everyone that global circuits face global risks.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Javi Leal and Álvaro Cepero withdrew from the tournament after drone and missile strikes near key UAE zones forced authorities to suspend flights. The pair had only recently formed as a temporary pairing — Leal’s regular partner Pablo Cardona was sidelined by injury — making the geopolitical intervention particularly cruel timing. Premier Padel’s statement was measured: “Premier Padel maintains direct contact with the players currently in the Middle East. Any other changes in their participation will be communicated officially in due time.”
But Leal and Cepero aren’t the only players caught in the crossfire. Javi Garrido, who relocated to Dubai last summer and is ranked 21st globally, described the experience to Onda Cero with unsettling clarity: “Honestly, we were scared. We were at home and started hearing noises. We didn’t know if they were bombs, explosions, or missiles,” AnalistasPadel reports. He and partner Lucas Bergamini remain in limbo — their first-round match against José Jiménez and company hangs on whether they can secure a flight out. Jon Sanz, Pablo Lijó, and Gonzalo Rubio dodged the chaos only because they weren’t in Dubai when airspace closed.
The Tournament Spain Needed
The irony cuts deep: Gijón 2025 was defined by absence. Last year’s conflict between Premier Padel, the FIP, and player autonomy left the tournament without its top 100 players, producing what one Spanish outlet described as “a cold, strange feeling in the stands.” This year was supposed to erase that memory. The return of Álex Chozas and Tino Libaak — fresh off solid early-season performances — alongside Tolito Aguirre and Álex Arroyo signals depth Spain didn’t get twelve months ago.
Tuesday’s opening slate delivered on that promise, at least structurally. Chozas-Libaak headlined the 16:00 slot at Palacio de Deportes de La Guía, followed by Tolito-Arroyo and the rising duo of Pol Hernández and Guille Collado, who’ve won back-to-back FIP Silver titles in recent weeks. AnalistasPadel notes that all matches through the quarterfinals stream free on Premier Padel’s YouTube channel, with Red Bull TV taking over from Friday onward — a accessibility move that contrasts sharply with the geopolitical barriers keeping some players grounded thousands of miles away.
The Withdrawal Ripple Effect
Leal and Cepero’s absence opens a lucky loser slot, determined by draw, but the real question is whether Garrido-Bergamini will make it in time. Spanish embassies have advised residents in the Gulf to shelter in place unless travel is essential — a recommendation that directly conflicts with professional obligations. Garrido’s social media tone stayed measured: “Thanks to everyone for the messages and the concern. The situation here generates considerable uncertainty and, although we try to stay calm, we want to leave as soon as possible,” he posted.
It’s a reminder that padel’s global expansion — with players chasing tax advantages and training facilities in the Middle East — carries risks that federations and circuits haven’t fully stress-tested. The sport’s calendar won’t pause for geopolitics, but players are learning that residency decisions have consequences beyond tax brackets.
Gijón finally has its stars back. Now it just needs all of them to land.
Sources
- Confirmado: ¡Javi Leal se pierde el P2 de Gijón por el conflicto en Oriente Medio! — Mundo Deportivo
- La crisis en Oriente Medio golpea al pádel: Javi Leal y Álvaro Cepero, baja en el Gijón P2 — AnalistasPadel
- Chozas, Libaak y Tolito abren el Gijón Premier Padel P2: partidos, horarios y dónde verlo en abierto — Mundo Deportivo
- Premier Padel Gijón P2: dieciseisavos, horarios y dónde ver — AnalistasPadel
- Dos campeones del mundo debutan en España: ¡sigue en directo la jornada del P2 de Gijón! — Mundo Deportivo
Sources:
- Dos campeones del mundo debutan en España: ¡sigue en directo la jornada del P2 de Gijón!
- En directo la primera jornada de los dieciseisavos de final del Gijón Premier Padel P2 2026
- Premier Padel Gijón P2: dieciseisavos, horarios y dónde ver.
- Confirmado: ¡Javi Leal se pierde el P2 de Gijón por el conflicto en Oriente Medio!
- La crisis en Oriente Medio golpea al pádel: Javi Leal y Álvaro Cepero, baja en el Gijón P2
- Chozas, Libaak y Tolito abren el Gijón Premier Padel P2: partidos, horarios y dónde verlo en abierto