Padel Mexicano: rules, pairings and players
A padel Mexicano is an Americano where each round is drawn from the current standings. After every round players are ranked by total points and split into groups of four down the table; on each court the 1st and 4th play the 2nd and 3rd. Players of a similar level meet more and more, so the matches get tighter as the night goes on.
- Players
- 4+
- Best with
- 8 to 16
- Courts
- 1 per 4 players
- Rounds
- Your choice, often 6–8
- Each match
- 16, 24 or 32 points
- Winner
- Most total points
What is a Mexicano?
Mexicano keeps everything people like about an Americano — rotating partners, points instead of sets, one leaderboard — and fixes its weak spot. In a fixed Americano rotation, the best player in the club can be drawn against the newest one in round six. In a Mexicano that rarely happens after the opening rounds: the standings decide who plays whom, so the top of the table fights it out on one court while the rest play matches of their own level.
The trade-off is that you can't print the schedule in advance. Each round depends on the results of the one before it.
How a round is drawn
- Round one is a random draw (or seeded by level, if you'd rather).
- Score it like an Americano: a fixed number of points per match, and both partners bank their pair's points.
- Re-rank every player by total points once all courts have finished.
- Group in fours down the table: places 1–4, then 5–8, and so on. Any players left over sit out that round.
- Pair strongest with weakest: in each group, 1 & 4 play 2 & 3. The leader partners the fourth-placed player against the two in between.
- Repeat until the last round, then rank on total points.
Example: drawing round four
Eight players, two courts, after three rounds of 24 points:
| Rank | Player | Points | Court | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ana | 52 | A | Di |
| 2 | Ben | 47 | A | Cy |
| 3 | Cy | 41 | A | Ben |
| 4 | Di | 38 | A | Ana |
| 5 | Eva | 36 | B | Hal |
| 6 | Fin | 34 | B | Gil |
| 7 | Gil | 29 | B | Fin |
| 8 | Hal | 23 | B | Eva |
Court A is Ana & Di v Ben & Cy, court B is Eva & Hal v Fin & Gil: the top four play each other and the bottom four play each other. A big round for Eva and Hal can lift either of them into the top group for round five. In BAYmericano the groups also rotate across courts, so the leaders aren't parked on court 1 all night.
How many players and courts you need
Mexicano needs four players per court, and works best with a multiple of four so nobody sits out. Unlike an Americano there's no fixed number of rounds — agree a number up front, or play until the court booking runs out.
| Players | Courts | Suggested rounds | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 6–7 | ≈ 1 h 30 – 2 h |
| 12 | 3 | 6–8 | ≈ 1 h 30 – 2 h |
| 16 | 4 | 7–8 | ≈ 2 h |
| 20 | 5 | 7–8 | ≈ 2 h |
The session length doesn't grow with the group the way an Americano does — 20 players can finish as fast as 8, as long as you have the courts. With a roster that isn't a multiple of four, the leftover players take turns sitting out.
Mexicano vs Americano
| Americano | Mexicano | |
|---|---|---|
| Partners | Fixed rotation, everyone once | Drawn from the standings |
| Schedule | Known before play | One round at a time |
| Rounds | Players − 1 (or fewer) | Any number |
| Matches | Mixed levels | Similar levels after round one |
| Best for | Social nights, newcomers | Competitive groups, mixed abilities |
Who wins, and tie-breaks
Most total points wins. Ties are broken on point difference, then matches won. A good last round matters more here than in an Americano, because the leaders are playing each other right up to the end.
Run a Mexicano with BAYmericano
- Create the event and pick Mexicano as the format, then set the date, start time and courts.
- Share the invite link in the group chat. Players add themselves; anyone past the courts' capacity goes on a waitlist.
- Draw round one, then let the app draw each new round from the standings as soon as the last court's score is in.
- Enter scores on the court card — tap a pair, pick their points, and the standings update straight away. Put the club screen on a TV so everyone can follow.
It's free, runs in the browser, and nobody needs an account to join. Start a tournament →
Frequently asked questions
How is a Mexicano round paired?
Players are ranked on total points and grouped in fours down the table. In each group, 1st and 4th partner up against 2nd and 3rd.
How many rounds should a Mexicano have?
Six to eight rounds suits most sessions. That's enough for the standings to settle, and fits comfortably in two hours at 24 points a match.
Can you play a Mexicano with 6 or 10 players?
Yes. Players are grouped in fours, so with 6 or 10 the two left over sit out that round, and the rest is shared out across the session.
Can you get the same partner twice in a Mexicano?
Yes. Pairings follow the table, so two players who stay close in the standings can be partnered again. If you want everyone to partner everyone exactly once, play an Americano.
Is Mexicano fair to weaker players?
It's usually fairer than an Americano. After the first round or two, lower-ranked players face opponents of a similar level instead of being drawn against the club's best.