Cervezas Victoria Pickle Pro Tour: A Record-Breaking Start
By The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team • Apr 22, 2026 • 5 min read
A record-setting start, 480-plus matches, and international stars define the 2026 season opener
THE PICKLE PRO TOUR (PPT) opened its 2026 season in Gran Canaria with numbers that signal more than incremental growth. With 192 registrations, the event marked a 35% increase over last year, reinforcing pickleball’s accelerating momentum in Spain. Player participation rose from 101 in 2025 to 134 in 2026, a 33% jump that reflects both rising interest and deeper competitive fields.
Launched in 2025 as Spain’s first official national pickleball circuit, the Pickle Pro Tour is still in its early stages but is already positioning itself as a structured, multi-stop professional pathway.
What stands out just as much as the growth is the balance. Amateur and PRO categories are beginning to even out, an important indicator of a maturing circuit that is building both grassroots depth and elite-level competition.
Gran Canaria Open, Photo Credit: Pickle Pro Tour
Volume, Structure, and a Demanding Schedule
The scale of competition matched the growth in entries. Across the weekend, 485 matches were played, with the bulk taking place on Friday and Saturday before a finals-focused Sunday. It was a demanding schedule that required both organization and endurance, particularly for players competing across multiple draws.
The opening day alone featured more than 200 matches, setting the tone early for what would become a high-volume, high-energy event.
The tour features singles, doubles, and mixed doubles across amateur and PRO divisions, creating a full competitive structure that mirrors more established international circuits. Top events have also begun introducing prize pools, signaling early steps toward professionalization.
The structure blended high-volume play at the host club with a more curated experience on center court. That balance is becoming increasingly important as tournaments look to serve both participants and spectators.
Center Court Becomes the Showcase
The central court emerged as a focal point of the event, hosting key matches and all finals. Six matches on Saturday and five finals on Sunday gave the tournament a clear stage for its biggest moments.
Matches were also streamed live, extending the reach of the event beyond the venue and giving the sport added visibility as it continues to grow its audience.
This format matters. It brings structure and visibility to the sport, creating a more compelling experience for fans while elevating pickleball as a spectator product.
Gran Canaria Open, Photo Credit: Pickle Pro Tour
An Increasingly International Field
One of the clearest signals of the tour’s trajectory is its growing international presence. Players from 11 different nationalities competed in Gran Canaria, bringing a wider range of styles and raising the overall level of play.
International players were not just present. They were competitive deep into the draws, reinforcing the idea that the Pickle Pro Tour is beginning to attract attention beyond Spain’s borders.
Champions Crowned in Gran Canaria
Sunday’s finals delivered across all PRO categories, with high-level matches closing out the weekend.
In men’s singles, Héctor Sánchez defeated Alberto Seccia in a three-set battle. Katie Morris captured the women’s singles title with a win over Paula Levitskiy, adding to what would become a standout performance across multiple events.
In men’s doubles, Jesús Campos and Javier Gallego secured the title after a tightly contested match against Ignasi De Rueda and Davide Vendrame. In women’s doubles, Morris partnered with Kaitlynn Hart to defeat Levitskiy and Alicia Roca, confirming her consistency throughout the tournament.
The mixed doubles final added another international layer, with María Pintor and Jesús García overcoming the pairing of Morris and Joshua Bright to take the title.
Gran Canaria Open, Photo Credit: Pickle Pro Tour
A National Tour Taking Shape
Gran Canaria was not just a standalone event. It was the opening stop on a multi-city national circuit that will span Spain throughout 2026, reinforcing the Pickle Pro Tour’s ambition to build a structured, professional competitive pathway.
The season continues with the Málaga Spanish Open from May 8 to 10, followed by Madrid in June and A Coruña in July. After a summer break, the tour resumes in Mijas-Costa del Sol in September, then moves to Barcelona in October before closing the season with the Madrid Master Final in December.
Each stop is designed to build toward the final standings, where both tour champions and Spanish national titles will ultimately be decided, adding a layer of continuity and stakes that extends well beyond a single weekend.
Momentum That Extends Beyond One Event
The opening event did more than deliver strong numbers. It showed a circuit beginning to take shape, with consistency in structure, depth in participation, and a level of organization that supports repeatable growth.
Backed by sponsors such as Cervezas Victoria, the tour is also building the commercial foundation needed to scale the sport nationally. The combination of competitive depth, increasing visibility, and early-stage investment points to a circuit that is not just growing, but evolving.
The Road Ahead
The tour now moves to its next stop, the Málaga Spanish Open, scheduled for May 8 to 10. If Gran Canaria is any indication, the 2026 season is not just building on past success. It is accelerating it.
The Pickleball Editorial Team produces in-depth reporting and cover features that examine the sport’s growth, innovation, competition, and culture. With contributors who understand both the strategy of the game and the forces shaping its future, the team is committed to telling the full story of modern pickleball.
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