The 2026 Premier Padel season kicks off in Riyadh, and we've analyzed the market to bring you our top picks for your fantasy team. After an exciting Hexagon Cup that gave us valuable insights into player form, these four players offer the perfect combination of talent, momentum, and value.
Men's Picks
Valentino "Tino" Libaak is one of padel's brightest young talents. The Argentine prodigy made history in 2023 when he became the youngest player ever to reach a World Padel Tour final at just 17 years, 7 months and 2 days old. But his crowning achievement came in 2024, when he won the World Championship with Argentina and was named tournament MVP after securing the decisive point against Spain.
After a challenging 2025 season marked by injury, Libaak begins 2026 with a new partnership alongside fellow world champion Álex Chozas. Both players are hungry to prove themselves after difficult campaigns, and their chemistry as teammates on the Argentine national team provides a solid foundation.
Hexagon Cup 2026: Paired with Javi Garrido for Eleven Eleven, Tino showed he's back to peak form. The pair defeated Stupaczuk/Ruiz (7-6, 6-3) and recorded a memorable victory over Paquito Navarro/Chozas (7-5, 7-5). After almost a year without playing together, both players looked sharp and physically ready for the new season.
Javier Garrido, known as "El Califa" and "La Metralleta" (the machine gun), is a two-time world champion with Spain who has been climbing the rankings since turning professional at just 15 years old. The player from Córdoba is renowned for his devastating backhand smashes and aggressive style that has made him one of the most exciting left-side players on tour.
After a 2025 season disrupted by injuries and partner changes, Garrido enters 2026 with renewed focus. His new partnership with Brazilian Lucas Bergamini (#13) brings balance to his aggressive approach – Bergamini's consistency and game-structuring abilities complement Garrido's finishing power perfectly.
Hexagon Cup 2026: A career milestone! Garrido recorded his first-ever victory against Paquito Navarro, winning 7-5, 7-5 alongside Libaak. This wasn't just any win – it was a statement that "El Califa" has regained his best form. Multiple victories throughout the tournament confirmed he's physically and mentally ready for the new season.
Women's Picks
Martina Calvo is rewriting the record books. Born in Pamplona in July 2008, she became the youngest player in Premier Padel history to reach a semifinal at just 16 years and 329 days old. Her rapid ascent through the rankings has been nothing short of extraordinary, and 2026 sees her begin the season as the 5th ranked pair alongside former world #1 Marta Ortega.
This generational partnership pairs Ortega's vast experience with Calvo's fearless youth and attacking prowess. At 17, Calvo plays with a maturity beyond her years, and her ceiling appears limitless. The padel world is watching closely as she takes her next steps toward the very top of the game.
Hexagon Cup 2026: Paired with world #1 Delfi Brea for AD/Vantage, Martina went through the entire tournament UNDEFEATED and won the championship. Key victories: 6-3, 6-3 vs Salazar/Goenaga; 7-6, 6-1 vs Josemaría/Alonso; and 7-5, 6-3 in the final against Araújo/Jensen. Her performance was so impressive that many are speculating Brea and Calvo could reunite in the future.
Carmen Goenaga from Salamanca represents stability in a season of wholesale changes. While nearly every top women's pair split during the off-season, Goenaga and her partner Bea Caldera made a bold choice: continuity. "At no point did we doubt we would continue together," she stated. "The end of the season was very good and we are growing as a team."
At just 21 years old (turning 22 on February 23), Goenaga has already partnered with legends like Alejandra Salazar, Virginia Riera, and Aranza Osoro. These experiences have accelerated her development, and she finished 2025 just 320 points away from qualifying for the Barcelona Finals. Her goal for 2026 is clear: break into the top 8.
Hexagon Cup 2026: Paired with legend Alejandra Salazar for Hexagon Team, Goenaga faced the eventual champions Brea/Calvo and other top pairs. While the team didn't reach the final, the experience of competing alongside one of padel's all-time greats continues to sharpen her game for the challenges ahead.
Why These Four?
Our selections are based on a combination of current form, value, and upside potential. The Hexagon Cup provided crucial insights: Libaak and Garrido demonstrated they've overcome their 2025 struggles and are physically ready for the new season. Calvo's dominant, undefeated run alongside Brea proves she belongs at the very highest level despite her young age.
Goenaga offers a different kind of value – while other newly-formed pairs will need time to build chemistry, her continuity with Caldera means they can hit the ground running from day one in Riyadh. In fantasy padel, chemistry and match rhythm matter enormously in the early season tournaments.
These four players combine youth (average age just 20.5 years), proven talent, and momentum heading into the season opener. At their current market values, they represent some of the best value picks available for your Riyadh P1 roster.
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Looking Ahead
The Riyadh P1 sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting 2026 Premier Padel season. With the new Star Point system adding strategic depth and historic expansions into London and Pretoria on the horizon, the world's best padel players will be competing harder than ever for ranking points and glory.
Follow along with Out of The Court as we bring you weekly Best Picks, player analysis, and fantasy insights throughout the season. The 2026 journey begins now – make sure your team is ready.