Mexicano padel: let the standings shape each round
Mexicano is a doubles format with individual points and a changing draw. In Next Round, players are grouped by the current standings after each completed round. Here is what the pairing options mean and how to run a session.
Create your free Mexicano →Choose your first-round draw
Enter your player names, courts, rounds and points per match. The first round can be random, or seeded using the order of your player list. For a seeded draw, enter players in approximate ability order before you create the session.
With eight players on two courts, everyone plays. With nine players on two courts, Smart Bye selects eight players and gives one a rest. In a seeded first round, the eligible players are ordered by your original list and grouped in fours.
How does the Mexicano pairing work?
After all scores in the current round are saved, choose Draw next round. Eligible players are ordered by the individual leaderboard. The highest-ranked four go to court one, the next four to court two, and so on.
Within each group of four, choose one of these pairing rules:
| Option | Team A | Team B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 + 4 vs 2 + 3 | Highest + lowest | Second + third |
| 1 + 3 vs 2 + 4 | Highest + third | Second + lowest |
For example, if Alex, Sam, Jo and Lee occupy the first four places, the first option puts Alex with Lee against Sam and Jo. These are the rules implemented by this organiser; agree the option with your group before play.
Repeated partners can happen because results drive the draw. Mexicano does not promise a complete partner rotation.
Score each match and update the table
In a 24-point match, the two teams’ scores must add up to 24. A 15–9 finish gives each winning player 15 points and each opposing player nine. A 12–12 draw is valid.
When everyone plays equally, total points are a straightforward ranking choice. The total-points table breaks ties by point difference, then wins. The average-points table breaks ties by win rate. Players still equal after those rules share a rank; a stable random order resolves their positions for the draw.
Complete every court’s result before generating the next round. Otherwise, the draw would be based on an incomplete table.
How Smart Bye handles rest turns
When there are more players than court places, the draw first gives priority to players with fewer scheduled matches. Among those tied, players who have waited longer are prioritised. The eligible players are then ranked for the next draw.
Average points per completed match become the ranking measure automatically. Resting changes neither a player’s points nor their match count. The top court therefore contains the highest-ranked eligible players, which may differ from the top four overall when someone is resting.
Correcting scores and sharing the result
An earlier score can change every later Mexicano pairing. If you edit it after more rounds have been drawn, the organiser asks before removing those later rounds and results. Check the correction before confirming, and download a backup when needed.
Players can follow a read-only viewer QR where live sharing is connected. At the end, create a branded results card with the standings, total points and averages. Sessions also save locally in the organiser’s browser.
Plan around your court booking
A time limit and a round count answer different questions. Use the padel tournament time calculator to allow for warm-up and changeovers in a 60, 90 or 120-minute booking. You can end early; only fully completed rounds count in the final results.
These guides explain the formats as implemented in Next Round Padel. Agree your group’s rules before playing. Next Round Padel is operated by Third Place Advisory, United Kingdom. Report a correction or ask a question.