2024 Padel World Cup
Yesterday was finally the day! The opening ceremony of the 2024 Padel World Cup took place in Qatar. During this ceremony, the match schedule was revealed.
To keep you well informed, we will be posting a daily blog with all the results per group. In addition, we will occasionally share exclusive insider information about the players participating in the tournament.
Whether you follow your favorite players or are just a fan of the sport, keep following us on JustPadel for all the updates! Watch it live here!
Predictions for the Men's World Cup
Prior to the tournament, we made predictions for the group standings of both the men's and women's teams. We looked at the expected performances and rankings to give you an idea of the possible outcomes of the tournament.
Group A prediction:
1 Argentina
2 Italy
3 Belgium
4 United States
Group B prediction:
1 Spain
2 United Arab Emirates
3 Mexico
4 Paraguay
Group C prediction:
1 France
2 Uruguay
3 Chile
4 Qatar
Group D prediction:
1 Portugal
2 Brazil
3 Sweden
4 Netherlands
Initial reaction from Team NL:
After the draw, the first reactions were already in, and among those we spoke to was Menno Nolten, one of the eight Dutch top players defending our country's honor in Qatar. Menno Nolten shares his thoughts on the draw:
"It's a great challenge! Countries like Brazil and Portugal have some really serious top players. We already beat Sweden once during the European Championships, and I think we can definitely do it again. There is a strong wind, so the level will probably be closer. It remains a very difficult group, but if we play tactically well and continue to fight like lions, I am confident that there are opportunities for us as a team. We will do everything we can!
Did you know: Setback for TeamNL
The adventure did not start very well for the Dutch men's team, as Youp de Kroon, Julian Prins' partner, dropped out with an injury one day before they left. Yesterday, we spoke to him about this: "Representing my country is something I have been working hard for in recent years, and it is extremely disappointing that this cannot happen due to something so silly. Julian and I have played very well together over the past few months, and this World Cup was a nice reward for our hard work. On the other hand, there are worse things than this, and I'm sure that even without me, the team will do well. I have every confidence in that. It's a tough draw and it will be quite a challenge, but that's what makes it so great!"
With this positive and determined attitude, Team Netherlands is embarking on their adventure. The teams know that conditions in Qatar are unpredictable, which brings both challenges and opportunities. However, the Dutch players are ready for whatever comes their way.
Predictions for the Women's World Cup
Ahead of the Women's World Cup, we have made a comprehensive prediction of the group standings. We have analyzed all the teams and their performances so far to give the best possible picture of the expected outcomes. This way, you will be fully prepared for what this exciting tournament has to offer!
Group A prediction:
1 Spain
2 Brazil
3 Germany
4 Chile
Group B prediction:
1 Argentina
2 Portugal
3 United States
4 Egypt
Group C prediction:
1 Italy
2 Sweden
3 Uruguay
4 Japan
Group D prediction:
1 France
2 Netherlands
3 Belgium
4 Denmark
Interview with Victoria Kurz, Team Germany:
After the draw, we spoke with Victoria Kurz, one of the top players representing Germany. She shared her thoughts with us about the group Germany has been drawn into.
"It's a difficult group because we're also playing against Spain, the number one team," says Victoria. "But it's a great experience to take on such a strong team."
Victoria is also looking forward to the first group match against Chile, a team Germany has already met twice in previous World Cups. "We've beaten them twice, but they were both very exciting matches," she explains. "I expect it will take a lot of time and energy on the court this time too."
About the match against Brazil, she adds: "We are definitely the underdog there. But we're going to play freely and hopefully we can surprise them!"
In short, Victoria is in good spirits and looking forward to it, despite the challenging opponents.