R3 Bullpadel Cup Returns to Stratford as Elite Roster Strengthens for 2026
The R3 Bullpadel Cup returns to Stratford Padel Club this weekend as the opening event of the 2026 R3 Bullpadel Cup Leaderboard, bringing together one of the strongest LTA Grade 1 fields of the season.
The LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 event runs from 27 February to 1 March in Essex and carries £6,000 in prize money. It is the first stop on the 2026 Leaderboard, which features a £25,000 season prize pot across the series.
The event includes 32-team men’s and women’s main draws alongside junior categories, underlining the depth across the weekend. British Nationals winners Alex Loughlan and Louie Harris headline the domestic field, joined by leading British squad players and international competitors.
Off court, the tournament coincides with significant developments within the R3 athlete roster.
Spanish international Alberto Garcia Jimenez, a rising professional currently sitting just outside the world’s top 100, has signed with R3 and will partner Christian Medina Murphy throughout the 2026 season. The 23-year-old is ranked world No.112 in the latest FIP standings.
Medina Murphy, ranked world No.129 and Britain’s leading-ranked male player, has also extended his contract with R3 through to February 2028.
The new partnership brings international tour experience together with Britain’s leading male player in a full-season pairing aimed at building consistency and momentum on the international circuit.
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Garcia Jimenez said: “I am delighted to join this distinguished team. This represents a significant opportunity, and I am fully committed to doing my utmost to contribute to the R3 team.”
R3 has also formally signed Benedetto Campione, one of Britain’s most promising young players. Seeded seventh at Stratford and currently training in Spain, Campione is targeting progression into the professional ranks this year and represents part of the next generation emerging within the British system.
Sam Kemp, Managing Director of Operations at R3 Sport, said: “Stratford is an important moment in the calendar. It opens the 2026 Leaderboard and the level across both draws reflects how quickly standards are rising in the British game.
“Extending Christian’s deal, bringing Alberto into the team and formally signing Benedetto shows our commitment to building competitive partnerships and long-term pathways. This weekend is about high-level competition, but it also reflects the continued development of the professional structure around the sport.”
The R3 Bullpadel Cup Stratford Padel Club concludes on Sunday, March 1, with finals taking place across the weekend.
About R3 Sport
R3 Sport is a professional padel organisation operating across athlete management, tournaments and performance pathways within the UK and internationally. Through the R3 Bullpadel Cup series and its growing elite roster, R3 is focused on raising competitive standards, supporting British players on the international stage and building long-term structures within the professional game.
R3 Sport operates as part of the wider VVV Sports group.
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