As pickleball continues its rapid growth across Europe, Spain is emerging as one of the continent's most exciting markets—and DUPR is helping power that growth. The latest stop on the Pickle Pro Tour, the Madrid Open, brought together more than 770 players from 25 countries, showcasing why globally consistent ratings matter more than ever.

As the Official Rating Partner of the Pickle Pro Tour, DUPR helps ensure players from around the world can compete on a level playing field. Whether you're visiting Spain from France, the UK, the Netherlands, or beyond, your DUPR travels with you, making it easier to enter the right divisions, find competitive matches, and measure your progress against players worldwide.

A Tournament Built Around the City

Most of the competition took place at El Tejar de Somontes, the new official home of the Pickle Pro Tour. The finals, though, moved into Plaza de España on purpose.

Bringing the main courts to landmark public locations has become one of the defining features of the circuit. Rather than keeping play behind club gates, the tour puts it where people already are. That visibility is how new audiences find the sport.

"We want to create experiences, bring pickleball closer to the public, and showcase the sport in locations that help new audiences discover it," the organization said. "The response in Madrid confirms that this model works. Thousands of people experienced pickleball for the first time during the event."

A New European Hub

The Madrid Open also marked the official opening of El Tejar de Somontes as the permanent headquarters of the Pickle Pro Tour. For the event, 32 courts were installed across the venue, making it one of the largest dedicated pickleball sites in Europe and a long-term base for the sport's growth on the continent. Combined with DUPR's globally recognized rating system, players can now compete in a structured environment that connects local play with international competition.

Why Players Are Choosing Spain

The circuit is drawing more international attention with each event. Players point to the quality of competition, the weather, the dedicated facilities, and the chance to play in unusual venues. The tour's media and digital coverage gets credit too, raising the profile of both players and sponsors.

Players from 25 different countries competed in Madrid—a reminder that pickleball is increasingly international. Events like these highlight why a universal rating matters. Rather than relying on local systems that don't translate across borders, DUPR gives every player a consistent benchmark wherever they compete. 

A Growing List of Partners

Leading the circuit is title sponsor Cervezas Victoria, the Málaga-based brand that backed padel's European expansion through the World Padel Tour and is now supporting pickleball in Spain. The tour's wider partner roster includes Picklebull, Volvo, El Corte Inglés, Joma, NOX, Franklin, and DUPR, among others, a sign of the commercial interest building around the sport in Europe.

As more international events adopt DUPR, players can travel with confidence knowing their rating is recognized wherever they compete. Whether you're entering your first local tournament or taking on players from around the world, your DUPR goes with you.

Create your free DUPR profile today and start tracking your progress.