US juniors Emma Cantu and Roberta Berlanga win FIP U18 title in Miami

American juniors Emma Cantu and Roberta Berlanga have won the girls' Under 18 title at the FIP Promises Padel X 2026 in Miami - another encouraging result for the development of competitive youth padel in the United States.

The US pair defeated Brazil's Karine Peluso Tirloni and Ana Peluso Tirloni in the final, recovering from a difficult opening set to win 2-6, 6-4, 10-0.

A comeback in the U18 final

Cantu and Berlanga had to respond after losing the first set 2-6. They levelled the final by taking the second set 6-4, then dominated the deciding match tiebreak 10-0.

That scoreline gave the American team the Under 18 girls' title at a FIP Promises event staged on home soil.

The FIP Promises Tour is the International Padel Federation's international junior competition structure. Events are divided by age category and give developing players the opportunity to compete in an international environment before moving toward senior competition.

Miami produced champions across six junior categories

The Miami tournament included boys' and girls' competitions at Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 level.

The champions were:

For US padel, the headline result is the Cantu-Berlanga victory in the oldest girls' division.

Why the result matters for US padel

Padel in the United States is still building the player pathway that established padel countries have developed over many years.

That makes junior tournaments especially important. More youth competition means more players gaining match experience earlier, more opportunities to compete against international opponents and a clearer route from local training into FIP-sanctioned events.

A US pair winning an Under 18 title in Miami does not by itself define the strength of the national junior system - but it is a tangible result from the kind of competition that can help that system grow.

It also adds another layer to the expansion of padel in the US. The sport's growth is often measured through new clubs and courts, but long-term development also depends on coaching, junior programs, regular competition and players progressing through age groups.

Miami remains an important US padel market

South Florida is one of the most established padel regions in the United States, with a comparatively deep club base and regular exposure to international players and events.

That environment makes Miami a natural location for junior tournaments with an international field.

For young American players, competing locally against teams from other countries reduces one of the biggest barriers in junior sport - the cost and complexity of constant international travel.

What comes next

The result gives Cantu and Berlanga an international title at Under 18 level and another competitive reference point as they continue their development.

For the wider US scene, the more important trend is the continued presence of international junior padel on American soil.

More events, more junior programs and more competitive opportunities should make it easier for talented players to move from learning the sport to competing seriously.