What an open match actually is
A padel court holds four players. In a normal game, someone books the court and fills it with friends. In an open match, whoever books it leaves the empty spots visible to everyone else, and strangers claim them until the four are complete.
The idea comes from apps used across Europe and Latin America, and it solves the single biggest obstacle in padel: you rarely fail to find a court, you fail to find three other people free at the same hour.
Why the level matters so much
Open matches only work if the four players are roughly equal. A game between a beginner and someone who competes is unpleasant for all four, and it is the reason casual pick-up padel usually fails.
That is why every player here carries a category from 7ma to 1ra, the same ones used in Paraguayan tournaments (1ra is the top), worked out from a short questionnaire about experience, coaching, competition level, volleying and how you read the walls. You can see everyone's category before you commit to a match, and after each game the levels shift based on the result and on what the other players thought of your game.
Starting out
Learning the strokes and how to move around the court.
Intermediate
Consistent rallies, comfortable at the net, reads the back wall.
Advanced
Controls tempo, uses the walls, plays league or federated padel.
How joining one works here
- Pick a day. Matches are listed by date, with the club, the city and the start time.
- Take a free spot. One tap. You do not need a partner and you do not need to explain yourself to anyone.
- Sort out the details in the chat. Every match has a private chat for its four players: who books, who brings balls, what time to arrive.
- Pay at the club. The court fee is split between the four of you, on site. Nothing is charged through the site.
Teams are decided among the four of you before the first serve, not in advance. Most groups swap partners between sets.
Where open matches are posted
Most activity is around Asunción and the metropolitan area. If nothing is listed for the day you want, post your own match: the free spots are what attracts other players.
Related
- Play padel in Paraguay as a visitor — practical guide if you are travelling and want a game while you are here.
- Pádel en Paraguay — the same thing, in Spanish.
Find a match
Take the one-minute level test and the open matches near you become available.
What is an open match in padel?
A booked court where some of the four spots are left open for other players to claim. You join on your own rather than bringing a partner, and you play with people you may not know.
Can I join an open match as a beginner?
Yes. Every player has a category, from 7ma for beginners to 1ra for the best, and you can see the category of everyone already signed up, so you can pick a match where you will not be out of your depth.
Do I have to pay through the site to join?
No. Joining is free. The court fee is split between the four players and paid directly at the club.
What if someone drops out at the last minute?
Their spot reopens and anyone can take it. The match chat is the fastest way to find a replacement among people already watching that day.
Are open matches the same as americanos or tournaments?
No. An open match is a single game on one court between four players. Americanos and tournaments involve rotating partners across several courts and are usually organised by a club.
How are teams decided?
By the four players before the match starts. Nothing is fixed in advance, and most groups change partners between sets.