World No. 1 padel duo Coello and Tapia stage historic exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
World No. 1 padel duo deliver historic exhibition in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: The world’s top-ranked padel players, Arturo Coello, the youngest player in history to reach the FIP World No. 1 ranking, and Agustín Tapia, the joint World No. 1 known for his creative and attacking style, delivered a memorable night of elite competition at The Ultimate Padel Match, held at Space42 Arena, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday evening.
The one-night exhibition featured a rare head-to-head format that split the most dominant partnership in modern padel. Coello teamed up with Spain’s Jorge “Coki” Nieto, the current FIP World No. 7 and 2024 Premier Padel Finals champion, against Tapia and Argentine World Champion Federico Chingotto, the FIP World No. 3 renowned for his exceptional defensive court coverage. Played outside the official professional tour calendar, the match ended with a 7–6, 2–6, 6–3 victory for Tapia and Chingotto, marking a first-of-its-kind showcase for fans in the UAE capital.
Real pleasure
Reflecting on the event, Coello said returning to Abu Dhabi was a special experience both on and off the court:
“It’s our second time here, and it’s a real pleasure to play here and be in this city. Padel is growing a lot in Abu Dhabi, and today you could really feel how much people enjoyed the match. It’s an amazing event, and I hope people continue to enjoy and discover this sport.”
He also emphasized the role of exhibition matches in developing the sport locally:
“Padel is still quite new here, but when people can see the level we play at, it helps them connect with the game. It’s a great moment for fans to start practising and enjoying padel.”
Tapia echoed those sentiments, highlighting the importance of showcase events in building the padel community in the UAE:
“I’m really happy to be back in Abu Dhabi. Padel is growing a lot in the city and across the country, and exhibition matches like this help bring the community together and contribute to that growth.”
Looking ahead, Tapia expressed his eagerness to return to the capital: “I would love to come back, and hopefully Abu Dhabi can host more tournaments in the future so we can keep playing here.”
Beyond the court, both players embraced Abu Dhabi’s cultural offerings. Coello highlighted visits to the Zayed National Museum and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as standout experiences, describing them as “an incredible experience.”
The exhibition’s unique format also resonated strongly with fans. Eighteen-year-old spectator Danny Al Abadi, who travelled from Dubai to watch the match, said: “You don’t get many chances to see this level of padel up close. Seeing the best in the world compete against each other instead of together made it even more special, and matches like this really help people understand the sport better.”
