Guardrisk North vs South padel returns to Camps Bay dome

Cape Town – South Africa’s top padel players are set to descend on The Rotunda in Camps Bay this week as the fourth edition of the Guardrisk North vs South tournament returns for a three-day battle for national bragging rights.

The tournament, backed by Guardrisk and officially recognised by the South African Padel Association, will take place from 15 to 17 May and feature 56 of the country’s leading padel players competing in a high-pressure team format.

Widely regarded as the “Ryder Cup of South African padel”, the annual event has developed into one of the country’s premier showcases for the fast-growing sport.

Organisers said the tournament would once again pit Team North against Team South in a format focused on “squad depth, consistency and team performance rather than individual rankings”.

This year’s matches will be played across the indoor court beneath The Rotunda dome and outdoor courts at The Bay Hotel, creating what organisers described as “continuous action and a fast-moving tournament atmosphere”.

Friday’s opening session will feature 14 matches from 10am, while Saturday will host two full sessions of 14 matches each before Sunday’s final fixtures determine the overall winner.

Team North will again be captained by Paul Anderson of Kit Kat Team North, while Paul Waldburger will lead Team South.

The player line-up includes several of South Africa’s leading padel competitors, among them Luan Krige, Richard Ashforth, Adam van Harte, Warren Kuhn, Jason Blakey-Milner, Shaun Leagas, Egmond van Heerden and Josh Deutschmann.

Tournament organisers said the format would place “massive emphasis on endurance, composure and the ability to sustain performance over an entire weekend of pressure-filled matches”.

Speaking ahead of the event, Adrian Jacobs said the unique indoor venue added to the intensity of the competition.

“Playing under the dome changes everything,” Jacobs said.

“The crowd is close, the intensity builds quickly and you feel every point.”

Organisers said spectators would also have access to food stalls, spectator lounges and entertainment areas throughout the weekend.

“Families, padel fans and first-time spectators are expected to pack out The Rotunda as the country’s best battle it out point after point,” the statement said.

Padel has continued to expand rapidly across the globe, with organisers noting that the sport is now played in more than 100 countries.

Attendance for the event will be free, with spectators able to pre-register through northvssouthpadel.co.za.