Premier Padel, the leading official professional padel tour worldwide, and Wilson Sporting Goods Co., the leading global sports equipment manufacturer, today announced a sponsorship agreement for Wilson to be the official Premier Padel ball for the upcoming seasons.
Wilson, together with Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation (FIP), has developed two high-performance balls exclusively for Premier Padel tournaments. The partnership and licensing agreement will see Wilson become the only brand with the right to develop, promote, and market the official ball of Premier Padel, worldwide.
Eno Polo, CEO of Premier Padel, said: “We are pleased to welcome Wilson to the Premier Padel family as our official ball supplier. This collaboration, designed for the long term, is based on our shared values of elite performance, innovation and the growth of padel worldwide. We are delighted that the players have been part of the design team for the official balls, as we place the players at the heart of our project. This sponsorship supports our ambititions to take the sport to the next level as we continue to build a fully international, athlete-first professional tour.”
Jason Collins, Global General Manager of Wilson Racket Sports, added: “We look forward to working with Premier Padel as we come together to deliver high-quality products for one of the most exciting tours in global sport. It has been a long-term objective of Wilson to increase the international profile of padel and to bring the sport to new markets, and this sponsorship supports our vision and commitment.”
The two balls that Wilson has developed include the “Premier Padel Speed” ball, which is designed for slower playing conditions, and the “Premier Padel” ball, designed for venues with faster playing conditions. The decision of the ball for each tournament will be the responsibility of FIP, Premier Padel and Wilson.
Both balls have been tested by professional players, including the 16-time former world number 1, Fernando Belasteguín, who commented on the offical balls: “I am very happy with the final result of both balls as they both perform at a high level during a long time. In addition, I am sure that being able to change the ball depending on the venue will allow us to play at a better level and offer a greater show to fans around the world.” The Premier Speed ball and the Premier ball will be available starting May 1st at retail partners and Wilson.com.
The tournaments confirmed so far where Wilson balls will be used are: Greenweez Paris Major, BNL Italy Major, Riyadh P1, Argentina P1, Andalusia P1, Comunidad de Madrid P1, Milano P1, NEWGIZA P1, Andalusia P2, Dusseldorf P2, and the Premier Padel Tour Finals in Barcelona.
The 2024 Premier season will see 25 tournaments spanning 18 countries in 5 continents taking place throughout the year, demonstrating Premier’s ongoing commitment to reach new markets, grow the game globally and inspire more people to participate.