APPT GrandSlam Pad Thai Padel Bangkok

This past weekend, Mario Wongsuwan traveled to Bangkok to compete at the APPT Grand Slam hosted at Pad Thai Padel. Entering the main category qualifiers, Mario and his partner carried the Thai flag as the only Thai team in the draw—an achievement in itself at a tournament of this level.

In the first round of qualifying, they faced experienced French opponents. Despite a competitive start, the routine and composure of the more seasoned pair proved decisive. The match hinged on fine margins, with Mario’s team losing five of six golden points—a telling statistic that underscored just how narrow the gap was. The loss sent the Thai duo into the consolation bracket.

Regrouping quickly, Mario responded with a strong performance to claim a convincing win in the first consolation round. Momentum carried them into the semifinals, where they met Daniel Fuentes and his partner AJ. It was another high-quality encounter, played at a fast pace with long rallies and disciplined net play. Ultimately, Mario fell short in a 5–9 defeat, with Fuentes and AJ going on to win the consolation draw.

While the results did not deliver a podium finish, the weekend marked an important step forward—valuable experience against international opposition, exposure at a Grand Slam level, and proof that Thai players can compete point-for-point on this stage. Strong lessons, solid matches, and clear progress—Bangkok delivered exactly what high-level competition is meant to provide.