Padel Americano
New partners every match, individual scoring, and a winner crowned based on total points. Social, fast, and competitive!
What is Americano in padel?
The Americano format is one of the most social and fast-paced ways to play padel. In an Americano, you compete individually but play in pairs.
Players change partners after every round, and depending on the number of participants and rounds, everyone usually gets to play with — and against — everyone at least once.
It's a flexible format that can be played in different ways — from a casual, social event where the focus is on fun and meeting new people, to a competitive setup where every point counts and everyone is out to top the leaderboard.
Because you earn points individually, success depends on your ability to adapt to different partners and playing styles. The result is a tournament that's fast-moving, inclusive, and full of energy — perfect for any padel community.
Padel Americano rules
The Americano format is simple once you understand the basics.
Before jumping in, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the key rules and structure, so you know how points are scored, how partners rotate, and what to expect during the tournament.
Partners and Rotations
In an Americano, all players compete individually while playing in doubles matches. Each team consists of two players. After each match, partners rotate so that everyone gets the chance to play with and against all other participants or with as many as possible .
Counting points
Matches are played to a set number of points, for example 16, 24, or 32 points. You count each point (1, 2, 3, etc.), so if you play to 21 points, a match could end 13-8.
In this example players from the winning team carry 13 points forward in the tournament, while players from the losing team carry 8 points. You can also choose to play full sets if preferred.
Serving and Court Sides
Players serve 2–4 times in a row, then the serve passes to the opposing team. This rotation continues until the target number of points is reached. Court sides can be swapped according to agreement, for example after 12 points.
Scoring
After each match, results are recorded, and once all matches are completed, individual points are totaled. The player with the most points at the end of the tournament is the winner.
Note: Rules can be adjusted freely, especially for private or social tournaments, so feel free to tailor the format to your group's preferences.
How many players are in a Padel Americano?
The participation of players in this type of matches or tournaments is usually between 8 and 16 players but it can also be less and greater than this number.
The more players there are, the more rounds are needed before everyone has played with everyone. In social tournaments, however, it's usually not necessary for every player to face everyone, so larger groups can be accommodated easily. If the goal is for everyone to play with everyone, the number of rounds should be one less than the total number of players.
How long is a Padel Americano?
An Americano tournament typically lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours, making it a fast and engaging way to get plenty of matches in a short time. One of the great things about this format is its flexibility — depending on the number of players and rounds, it can easily be extended over a longer period, played across multiple days, or even organized as a league.