Reserve Cup Marbella 2026: How Puente Romano Hosted One of the Costa del Sol's Fastest-Growing Sporting Events

Reserve Cup Marbella 2026 concluded this weekend at the iconic Puente Romano Beach Resort, delivering its most successful edition to date and reinforcing Marbella’s growing reputation as one of Europe’s leading destinations for elite sporting events. Over four days, some of the world’s biggest padel stars competed in front of packed crowds, joined by celebrities, athletes and international guests who travelled to Marbella for what is rapidly becoming one of the most anticipated events on the global padel calendar.

For JUST Real Estate, who were fortunate enough to attend as guests throughout the tournament, it was clear that the Reserve Cup has evolved considerably since its inaugural edition. Bigger crowds, stronger player line-ups, the introduction of women’s competition and confirmation of its long-term future in Marbella all point towards an event with significant growth potential.

What is the Reserve Cup?

Unlike traditional professional tournaments, the Reserve Cup is built around a team format designed to maximise entertainment, player interaction and fan engagement. The event brings together many of the sport’s biggest names in a Ryder Cup-style environment where players compete for their respective teams rather than individual rankings. Hosted at the world-renowned Puente Romano Tennis Club, which has increasingly become one of Europe’s premier venues for racket sports, the tournament combines elite competition with hospitality, lifestyle experiences and celebrity participation.

The format creates an atmosphere that feels very different from conventional professional padel tournaments. The focus is as much on spectacle and fan experience as it is on the final result.

The Introduction of Women’s Competition

The biggest development for 2026 was the addition of the Reserve Cup’s first-ever women’s competition. This was a significant milestone for the event and one that added genuine sporting quality to the programme. The decisive women’s match featured Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo representing Team Reserve against Ale Alonso and Lara Arruabarrena for Team Sierra Blanca Estates.

In one of the most entertaining contests of the weekend, Alonso and Arruabarrena secured victory 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 in a dramatic super tie-break. The quality of play demonstrated that the women’s competition was far more than a symbolic addition. It quickly became one of the highlights of the tournament and is expected to become a permanent fixture going forward.

Partner Alina Evans notes, “The women’s matches brought another dimension to the event. The level was exceptional and it felt like a natural evolution for the tournament.”

Team Sierra Blanca Estates Claims the Title

The overall title was secured by Team Sierra Blanca Estates after a dramatic final day that perfectly captured the spirit of the Reserve Cup format. Following two closely contested opening days, the competition remained finely balanced heading into Friday’s decisive session. With both teams still within reach of victory, every match carried significant weight and the atmosphere around Centre Court reflected the importance of the occasion. The breakthrough came in the opening women’s match, where Ale Alonso and Lara Arruabarrena delivered a crucial victory for Team Sierra Blanca Estates against Alejandra Salazar and Tamara Icardo. The match went all the way to a super tie-break before Alonso and Arruabarrena prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 11-9, giving their team valuable momentum.

Attention then turned to the headline encounter of the afternoon. Arturo Coello and Javi Garrido, stepping in for the injured Coki Nieto, faced the much-anticipated pairing of Ale Galán and Leo Augsburger. After dropping the opening set, Coello and Garrido produced an impressive comeback, winning 1-6, 6-0, 10-6 and effectively securing the trophy for Team Sierra Blanca Estates before the final match of the tournament had concluded. With the title already decided, Jon Sanz and Javi Leal completed the afternoon with another victory for Team Sierra Blanca Estates, defeating Lucas Bergamini and Gonzalo Alfonso 6-3, 6-4.

The triumph capped a memorable week for Team Sierra Blanca Estates and provided a fitting conclusion to a tournament that delivered world-class padel, dramatic matches and one of the strongest atmospheres seen at Puente Romano since the event was first launched.

The Galán and Augsburger Partnership Everyone Wanted to See

The most anticipated match of the weekend featured an experimental pairing that had generated considerable discussion throughout the padel world. Ale Galán teamed up with Leo Augsburger to represent Team Reserve against Arturo Coello and Javi Garrido, who stepped in following the injury withdrawal of Coki Nieto.

Much of the intrigue came from seeing Galán return to the right-hand side of the court while partnering Augsburger after previous tensions between the players had attracted attention within the sport. After losing the opening set 1-6, Coello and Garrido produced a remarkable comeback, winning the second set 6-0 before taking the super tie-break 10-6 to secure a crucial point for Team Sierra Blanca Estates.

It proved to be one of the defining moments of the tournament and one of the matches spectators will remember most from the 2026 edition.

Carlos Alcaraz and the Celebrity Factor

Part of what makes the Reserve Cup unique is its ability to attract high-profile personalities from far beyond the world of padel. Friday’s programme saw the attendance of world tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz, who spent time enjoying the event and meeting players.

He was joined by a number of well-known figures including Sergio Busquets, Carlos Moyà, Patrick Rafter, Spain basketball coach Sergio Scariolo, footballer Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos and singer Ana Mena. The presence of so many internationally recognised names reflects both the growing popularity of padel and Marbella’s unique ability to attract world-class talent across multiple industries.

Managing Partner James Evans comments, “What stood out was not only the quality of the sport but the atmosphere around it. Reserve Cup feels like a sporting event built specifically for Marbella.”

Reserve Cup Confirmed in Marbella Until 2030

Perhaps the most significant announcement came during the closing ceremony. Lisandro Vieytes, Deputy Mayor of Marbella, confirmed that Reserve Cup will remain in Marbella for at least the next four years, securing its future in the city until 2030. This announcement provides long-term stability for the event and gives organisers the confidence to continue investing in growth, infrastructure and international promotion.

Tournament founder Wayne Boich also highlighted the strong relationship between the event and Marbella, describing the city as a special destination for the competition. The confirmation is particularly important given Marbella’s recent recognition as one of Europe’s leading destinations for hosting major sporting events.

By the time the tournament reaches 2030, Marbella may well be hosting one of the most important annual events in international padel.