A Historic Málaga Spanish Open Elevates the Pickle Pro Tour
By The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team • May 13, 2026 • 5 min read
An event marked by spectacle and international participation
The Cervezas Victoria Pickle Pro Tour closed out a historic Málaga Spanish Open on Sunday following an intense weekend of competition marked by international participation, championship-level play, and the full debut of the circuit’s new PickleVAR video review system.
Pickleball Takes Over Málaga
Held across two venues, the Outdoor Courts of the Torremolinos Sports Complex, formerly known as the Municipal Sports Board of Torremolinos, and the center court installed in Plaza de la Marina in downtown Málaga, the tournament brought together 470 players from 15 different nationalities, confirming the growing international appeal of the circuit.
Over the three days of competition, a total of 691 matches were played, reflecting the tournament’s continued competitive and structural growth.
After a rain-soaked Saturday on May 9 forced several schedule shifts, Sunday’s center court action returned to form. With the weather largely cooperating, the Málaga crowd enjoyed every scheduled final as planned. The only exception was a light drizzle in the final moments of the PRO mixed doubles match, which brought the tournament to a close.
Málaga Provides the Perfect Stage
Set along Spain’s southern Costa del Sol, Málaga has become one of the country’s most vibrant destinations for international sports, tourism, and outdoor events. Known for its Mediterranean coastline, historic city center, beaches, cuisine, and year-round climate, the city provided an energetic backdrop for one of the biggest weekends on the 2026 Pickle Pro Tour calendar.
With the center court installed in Plaza de la Marina in the heart of downtown, the Málaga Spanish Open once again brought pickleball directly into the public spotlight, blending sport, spectators, and city life in one of Spain’s most recognizable coastal destinations.
PickleVAR Makes Its Debut
One of the tournament’s major highlights was the official launch of PickleVAR, the Pickle Pro Tour’s new video review system. Introduced earlier in the weekend, the technology was utilized in every PRO final on Sunday and quickly became one of the tournament’s defining features.
The system allows officials to review disputed calls using high-definition broadcast replay and has been positioned by the circuit as another step toward the continued professionalization of pickleball in Europe.
Tournament organizers said the response from both players and fans was overwhelmingly positive.
“PickleVAR once again received a great reception from both players and spectators, reinforcing the Pickle Pro Tour’s commitment to innovation and the professionalization of pickleball,” organizers stated.
Champions Crowned on Sunday
On the court, much of the anticipation entering Sunday, May 10 centered around Ignasi de Rueda and María Costantino, who both entered the final day with an opportunity to capture the circuit’s coveted “triple crown” by winning three titles in Málaga.
While neither player completed the feat, the pair did win the PRO mixed doubles championship together after defeating Katie Morris and Mateusz Matysik in the final match of the day.
In women’s singles PRO competition, Britain’s Katie Morris captured the title after defeating María Costantino, while also maintaining the No. 1 ranking on the circuit.
In men’s singles PRO, Cádiz native Mauro García defeated Ignasi de Rueda to claim the championship.
The women’s doubles PRO final ended with a victory for Serbia’s Marina Sicic and Poland’s Karolina Owczarek, who defeated Sabrina Méndez and María Costantino in one of the day’s most exciting matches.
In men’s doubles PRO, Poland’s Mateusz Matysik and Spain’s Claudio Quiñones, who currently resides in the U.S., earned gold after defeating England’s Louis Laville and Catalonia’s Ignasi de Rueda.
Tournament organizers highlighted the overall success of the event from both competitive and organizational perspectives.
“Málaga once again demonstrated the potential pickleball has and the growth the circuit is experiencing,” Pickle Pro Tour organizers stated. “We had extremely strong participation, a high level of play from both national and international players, and a center court atmosphere that allowed us to end the Málaga Spanish Open with a spectacular day worthy of both the athletes and the fans after a difficult weekend that, despite the challenges, we managed to complete without cancellations.”
With the Málaga Spanish Open complete, the circuit now turns its attention to its next stop, the Madrid Open, scheduled for June 19–21.
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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