Padel Mexicano – rules and how to run a tournament
Mexicano is Americano with the leaderboard as the engine: after every round the players who are close in the standings meet, so matches stay even and exciting all the way.
Open Padel Turnering (free)How Mexicano works
- Round 1: drawn at random (or in your own order).
- After each round: players are ranked by points.
- Next round: the top four play together on court 1, the next four on court 2 and so on.
- Teams on the court: usually 1st + 4th against 2nd + 3rd, so the pairs are about equal in strength.
- Final round: most points overall wins.
Pros and cons
- + Even matches because you meet your own level.
- + Exciting: the standings keep moving.
- − You do not necessarily meet everyone, and you may partner the same players more than once.
- − The leaderboard must be kept up to date after every round (the app does this automatically).
What you need
- Players: 8, 12 or 16 fit best.
- Courts: one per four players.
- Points: for example 24 in total per match, or first to 12.
Run it with the app
Padel Turnering builds the next round from the leaderboard automatically, adds up the points and exports the result as PDF, Excel or CSV. Free, no login, and offline.
See also Americano, where partners rotate on a fixed schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How does Mexicano work in padel?
Round 1 is random. After that players are sorted by points: the top four meet on court 1, the next four on court 2 and so on. On each court the usual pairing is 1st+4th against 2nd+3rd.
How many players can you have in Mexicano?
At least 4, ideally a multiple of four (8, 12, 16). With fewer courts than players/4 some players sit out and the breaks are shared.
Is Mexicano better than Americano?
Mexicano gives closer matches because you keep meeting players at your own level. Americano is more social because everyone plays with everyone on a fixed schedule. Choose by whether you want tension or rotation.
How are players ranked in Mexicano?
By total points after each round. Ties are broken by, for example, wins or point difference. The app does it automatically.
Can you change how teams are paired?
Yes. The classic choice is 1+4 vs 2+3. The alternative is 1+3 vs 2+4. The app supports both.