Major national padel tournament arrives in Devon as Grade 1 event heads to Exeter

One of the UK’s leading domestic padel tournaments arrives in Devon this week, as the LTA Grade 1 R3 Bullpadel Cup comes to City Padel Exeter from 20–22 March, bringing a strong British Tour field to the South West.

Organised by R3 Sport, part of VVV Sports, the tournament sits at the highest tier of the LTA domestic calendar, with players competing for British Tour ranking points and prize money across the three-day event.

The Exeter event is the second stop on the 2026 R3 Bullpadel Cup series, following the opening event in Stratford where R3 player Christian Medina Murphy took the title. Results this week will contribute to the R3 Bullpadel Cup Leaderboard, with players competing for a share of a £25,000 end-of-season prize pot.

Qualification begins on Friday, with the main draw running across the weekend and finals taking place on Sunday.

The event features leading British-based players across the men’s and women’s draws, including R3 player and top seed Jamie Lobo, who partners Ben Phillips, alongside pairs such as German Rodriguez Quesada & Manuel Valcarcel Sanchez and Josep Aymerich Bellmunt & Rio Hanif. The women’s draw includes top seeds Ainhoa Rico & Abigail Tordoff, Sarah Lochrie & Kerry White, and Alice Keddie & Victoria Nicholas.

The weekend will also feature a special exhibition match involving Exeter Chiefs and Exeter City players, creating a unique crossover between professional sport and one of the UK’s fastest-growing racket sports.

The tournament reflects the rapid growth of padel across the UK, with participation rising sharply in recent years as new clubs and courts open nationwide. Increasingly played by both experienced racket sport athletes and newcomers, padel is expanding well beyond its traditional strongholds.

Bringing a Grade 1 event to Exeter marks an important step in that progress, offering local audiences the chance to experience top-level domestic competition in their own region.

Sam Kemp, Managing Director of Operations, Tournaments & Events at R3 Sport, said: “Bringing a Grade 1 event to Exeter is a big moment for the region. The level on show this weekend reflects how quickly the sport is developing in the UK, and we’re excited to give players and fans in the South West the chance to be part of that.”

The tournament has already attracted local attention, including coverage on BBC Radio Devon, with organisers hoping the event will help introduce the sport to new audiences across the region.

The event runs through to finals day on Sunday, with matches taking place across the weekend at City Padel Exeter.