Key Points

• Monaco won the first European Police Padel Cup, organised by the Monaco Public Security Sports Association (ASSP) to mark its 40th anniversary.
• The inaugural competition brought together ten national delegations and more than 40 players from across Europe.
• Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden and Monaco participated in the event.
• The opening ceremony took place at Fort Antoine in Monaco, with Prince Albert II attending and drawing the first ball to determine the competition groups.
• Matches were held at Tennis Padel Beausoleil Club, where teams competed in a tournament designed to combine sporting performance with international cooperation.
• Monaco, represented by Guillaume Oversteyns and Quentin Lazzarini among its players, progressed through a particularly challenging group featuring France, Spain, Sweden and Cyprus.
• The Monegasque team recorded just one defeat during the tournament, against France, before securing the inaugural title.
• The event highlighted the growing role of padel in Monaco’s sporting landscape and created an opportunity for police personnel from different European countries to meet through sport.

The most significant development is Monaco’s victory in the first European Police Padel Cup, followed by the competitive route to the title, the international participation and the event’s wider purpose of encouraging relationships between European police forces.

Monaco Weekly News (MWN) October 10, 2026 – Monaco has won the inaugural European Police Padel Cup, securing the title at a tournament organised by the Monaco Public Security Sports Association (ASSP) to mark its 40th anniversary. The competition brought together police representatives from ten European countries, with matches held at the Beausoleil sports complex on 17 September. Monaco’s Guillaume Oversteyns and Quentin Lazzarini delivered the decisive performances, overcoming a demanding group stage and defeating Sweden in the final. The event was organised in collaboration with the Union Sportive des Polices d’Europe (USPE), with the aim of strengthening sporting ties between European police forces.

How did Monaco secure the first European Police Padel Cup title?

Monaco’s victory was the principal outcome of a competition that combined international sporting rivalry with cooperation between police organisations. The tournament provided an opportunity for officers from ten countries to compete in padel while representing their respective national delegations.

According to a report published by Code Sport Monaco on 18 September 2026, the Monegasque pair of Guillaume Oversteyns and Quentin Lazzarini won the inaugural title after progressing through a challenging group and then defeating Germany in the semi-finals and Sweden in the final. The report was written by J.B.

The final took place at the Devens sports complex in Beausoleil, close to Monaco. Oversteyns and Lazzarini won 6–2, 6–3 against the Swedish pair, completing a tournament in which they demonstrated consistency across the decisive matches. Their victory ensured that the first edition’s trophy remained in the Principality.

The result also marked a significant anniversary achievement for the ASSP. The association, which represents the sporting interests of Monaco’s public security personnel, had organised the event as part of its 40th-anniversary activities.

Rather than relying solely on the status of the host nation, Monaco had to negotiate a competitive route to the final. The group included France, Spain, Sweden and Cyprus, creating a demanding opening phase for the home representatives.

Which countries participated in the inaugural tournament?

The competition brought together delegations from Monaco, Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden.

In its preview published on 1 September 2026, Monaco Life, in an article by Virginia D’Umas, reported that police officers from ten European nations were expected to travel to the Principality for the inaugural tournament. It identified the ASSP as the organiser, working under the guidance of the Union Sportive des Polices d’Europe.

The event was scheduled across several days in September. Delegations arrived ahead of the opening ceremony, which took place at Fort Antoine on 16 September. The matches followed on 17 September at the Beausoleil venue, with the tournament forming part of the wider programme associated with the European police sports community.

The participation of ten countries gave the competition an international dimension from its first edition. Teams had the opportunity to meet colleagues from other national services, compete under a shared sporting framework and exchange experiences outside their normal professional environments.

The tournament’s significance therefore extended beyond the final score. It established a format through which police associations could bring together players from different countries around a sport that has expanded considerably across Europe.

The organisers’ decision to hold the competition in Monaco and neighbouring Beausoleil also connected the event to facilities on both sides of the Principality’s border. Although the championship was associated with Monaco, the playing venue allowed the competition to use the nearby sports complex.

What happened during the opening ceremony at Fort Antoine?

The opening ceremony took place on 16 September at the amphitheatre of Fort Antoine, a prominent venue in Monaco. Delegations walked behind their national flags, formally introducing the participating countries before the sporting programme began.

Prince Albert II attended the ceremony and took part in the draw by selecting the first ball used to determine the groups. His participation gave the opening event an official dimension and marked the start of the first edition.

In a report published on 16 September, MonacoViews described Prince Albert II’s attendance at Fort Antoine and identified the Union of European Police Sports as the partner organisation working with Monaco’s public security sports association. The report was written by Zak Jackson.

The ceremony was designed to bring the delegations together before the matches began. The presence of representatives from ten countries also underlined the international character of the competition.

The draw was particularly relevant for Monaco because it placed the home team in a group containing several strong opponents. France, Spain, Sweden and Cyprus were among the countries Monaco had to face during the opening stage.

The ceremony thus served both a symbolic and practical purpose: it formally launched the championship and established the groups that would determine the route to the final.

Why was Monaco’s group considered particularly difficult?

Monaco faced a demanding group featuring France, Spain, Sweden and Cyprus. The presence of several competitive opponents meant that the home side could not rely on the advantages associated with playing in familiar surroundings.

According to Code Sport Monaco, the Monegasque team finished level on points with France and Sweden but advanced at the top of its group on the basis of game difference. This detail helps explain the narrow margins involved in the opening phase and the importance of individual match results.

Monaco’s only defeat in the tournament came against France. Despite that setback, the team remained in contention and progressed to the knockout stage.

The group results demonstrated how the tournament format rewarded consistency rather than requiring a completely unbeaten campaign. In a closely contested group, the difference between games won and lost can determine which team advances when points are level.

Oversteyns and Lazzarini’s familiarity with each other’s playing styles was also relevant. The two players had previously competed together in corporate padel competitions, giving them experience as a partnership before the European championship.

Their selection was therefore supported by an established competitive relationship. The experience did not remove the difficulty of the draw, but it gave Monaco a pairing accustomed to playing together under tournament conditions.

How did Oversteyns and Lazzarini win the semi-final and final?

The Monegasque pair strengthened their position in the knockout stage with a convincing semi-final performance against Germany before facing Sweden for the title.

The results reported by Code Sport Monaco were:

SEMI-FINAL

Monaco vs Germany

6–3, 6–1

Monaco progressed to the final after winning both sets.

FINAL

Monaco vs Sweden

6–2, 6–3

The Monegasque pair secured the inaugural European title.

Source: Code Sport Monaco, report by J.B., 18 September 2026.

The semi-final result placed Monaco in the championship match, where the team again won in straight sets. Against Sweden, Oversteyns and Lazzarini made a strong start and maintained their advantage through the match.

Their victory completed a tournament in which Monaco had negotiated a difficult group, recovered from its defeat against France and won both knockout matches.

The results also demonstrated the value of an established partnership in doubles padel. Communication, positioning and coordinated decision-making are central to the format, and the Monegasque pair had already built experience playing together.

The final score provides a clear account of the outcome without suggesting that the competition was effortless. Monaco faced several strong opponents, and its route to the title included a loss in the group stage.

What role did the ASSP play in organising the championship?

The Monaco Public Security Sports Association was responsible for organising the first European Police Padel Cup in collaboration with the Union Sportive des Polices d’Europe.

The competition was linked to the ASSP’s 40th anniversary, giving the association an opportunity to combine its celebrations with an international sporting event.

As reported by Code Sport Monaco, ASSP president Bastien Isaia explained that the organisation wanted to create a major event with the USPE and support the development of European police sport. His remarks connected the championship to the association’s wider sporting objectives rather than treating it as an isolated tournament.

The organisational work involved bringing together the participating delegations, arranging the opening ceremony and providing a venue for the matches. The event also required coordination between the sporting bodies and the authorities associated with the host locations.

The USPE’s official competition information lists the first USPE Padel Cup in Monaco from 15 to 18 September 2026. It describes the event as an addition to European police sport and notes the wider growth of padel facilities across participating countries.

The partnership between the ASSP and the USPE gave the tournament a framework extending beyond Monaco’s domestic sporting activities. It created a common platform for police representatives to participate in a competition organised around shared rules and a recognised sporting format.

Who attended the final and celebrated Monaco’s victory?

The tournament brought together sporting representatives and senior figures associated with Monaco’s public institutions.

According to Code Sport Monaco, the prize-giving ceremony was attended by Yvette Lambin-Berti, Monaco’s Secretary of State, and Éric Arella, Director of Public Security. Their presence reflected the institutional importance attached to the event.

The victory was particularly significant for the players and the association because the championship had been organised at home. It also provided a result that could be included among the ASSP’s sporting achievements during its anniversary year.

In its account of the event, Code Sport Monaco reported that the players expressed pride in bringing the trophy to Monaco and the ASSP. The report also highlighted the positive reception of the participating delegations, according to comments attributed to the association’s president, Bastien Isaia.

The competition’s conclusion therefore combined the presentation of the inaugural title with the broader purpose of hosting visiting delegations. Monaco’s victory was the central sporting result, while the participation of the other countries provided the international dimension that organisers had sought.

How does this victory fit into Monaco’s previous padel achievements?

The inaugural European Police Padel Cup did not mark the beginning of the ASSP’s involvement in competitive padel. Oversteyns and Lazzarini had already established themselves as a successful pairing in corporate competitions.

A previous report published by La Gazette de Monaco on 31 March 2024 documented the pair’s success at the Padel Business League Masters in Toulouse-Colomiers. The competition brought together players representing companies from several European countries, and the Monaco representatives won the title for the second consecutive year.

Monaco Tribune subsequently reported on 10 March 2025 that the pair had secured a third consecutive French corporate padel championship. That result provided further evidence of their experience competing together before the European police tournament.

These earlier results offer useful context for understanding why the ASSP could field an experienced pair for the inaugural European competition. Their record in corporate padel did not guarantee success against international police delegations, but it demonstrated an established competitive background.

The European title added a different achievement to that record. Instead of competing in a corporate championship, the players represented Monaco’s public security sporting association in a tournament specifically organised for European police forces.

The result also provided a prominent international outcome during the association’s 40th-anniversary year.

What does the inaugural cup mean for the future of police sport in Europe?

The first European Police Padel Cup established a new competition involving police delegations from ten countries. Its future development will depend on whether the organisers and participating associations choose to continue the event and how they manage future editions.

The USPE has included the 2026 competition in its official calendar, confirming its place within the organisation’s European police sporting activities. Its published information also points to the expansion of padel facilities and the sport’s growing participation across Europe.

For the ASSP, winning the first edition gave the association both an organisational achievement and a sporting title. The competition also offered a practical example of how an anniversary event could bring international delegations together.

The tournament’s format may provide a basis for future editions, but the available reports do not establish whether a second cup has been formally scheduled, which country might host it or whether the number of participants will increase.

Any expansion would require further coordination among the relevant police sports organisations, including decisions about dates, venues, participating countries and competition arrangements.

The first edition nevertheless demonstrated that a police padel competition can attract international participation and produce a clear sporting outcome while also supporting professional contacts between delegations.

Background: Why is padel attracting interest across Europe?

Padel is a racket sport generally played in doubles on an enclosed court, with walls forming part of the playing area. It combines elements of tennis and squash and is often played in a format that encourages sustained rallies and teamwork.

The sport’s growth has been reflected in the expansion of dedicated courts and clubs across Europe. The USPE’s information for the inaugural police cup specifically identifies the increase in padel facilities as evidence of its wider development.

For police sporting associations, padel offers a format in which participants can compete as pairs and represent their organisations without requiring a large team. This makes it suitable for an international event involving several delegations.

The Monaco competition also illustrates how established sports can be used to create new opportunities for cooperation between public services. The tournament brought together participants from ten countries under a common sporting framework, while the opening ceremony and prize-giving provided opportunities for formal engagement.

The ASSP’s 40th anniversary supplied the immediate reason for organising the championship. Its collaboration with the USPE connected that anniversary to a wider European sporting initiative.

Monaco’s victory added a competitive achievement to the event, but the broader context remains the creation of a shared sporting occasion for police personnel across national boundaries.

Prediction: How could Monaco’s victory affect European police sporting associations?

Monaco’s success could strengthen interest in retaining the European Police Padel Cup as a recurring event. However, the extent of its future influence will depend on decisions by the ASSP, the USPE and the other participating delegations.

For Monaco’s public security sports association, the inaugural title provides a positive starting point for any future involvement. The combination of successful organisation and a home victory may also help the association demonstrate its capacity to host international police sporting competitions.

For participating police associations, a future edition could provide another opportunity to maintain sporting relationships, compare competitive standards and encourage officers to take part in organised physical activity. Whether the event attracts additional countries would depend on the level of interest and the arrangements made by the organisers.

For padel more generally, the championship adds another example of the sport being used in an institutional setting beyond ordinary club and corporate competitions. Its relevance to European police sport may increase if participating organisations continue to support the format.

Nevertheless, the first edition alone cannot establish that the cup will become an annual fixture or that participation will grow. Those outcomes would require confirmation through future announcements and competition schedules.