The Opening Ceremony of Tennis and Padel took place on July 28th in Coimbra, Portugal, at Patio das Escolas.

Athletes, officials, and volunteers gathered in this iconic historical venue, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation.

The ceremony featured cultural performances, welcoming speeches from local dignitaries, and the official oath-taking by athletes and referees. It marked the beginning of an exciting competition and highlighted the spirit of unity and fair play.

The Ceremony was attended by The Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcao, The President of the City Council, Jose Manuel Silva, The Secretary of State for Sport, Pedro Dias, The EUSA Executive Committee Member, Liviu Matac, FADU Portugal President, Ricardo Nora, FISU Executive Committee Member, Duarte Lopes, members of the leadership of the University of Coimbra, the President of the Coimbra Students Association and President of the Organising Committee, Carlos Magalhaes, the highest authorities of our host country, Representatives of the sport community, guests from the European University Sports Association (EUSA), Athletes, Coaches, Technical Delegates, Referees, Volunteers and the Organizing Committee.

EUSA Executive Committee Member and SCAC Chair, Liviu Matac, welcomed all participants and wished all the teams and participants who came to test their skills and abilities well ahead of the start of the competition, while also thanking the Organising Committee for all their contributions.

The competition is organised by the Portuguese University Sports Federation, the Academic Association of Coimbra, and the University of Coimbra.

The university and city have a strong tradition in hosting university-level sporting events, previously organizing the 7th European Universities Tennis Championship in 2010, the 2nd European Universities Judo Championship in 2013, the EUSA Gala and Conference in 2017, along with the European Universities Championships in Judo, Taekwondo, and Karate in 2018, the European Universities Games took place, which guarantees a high level of professionalism and commitment to excellence. The event also enjoys strong support from the local municipality, civic institutions, and local sports associations. 

The Championship will be held from July 29th to August 1st for Padel at Star Padel Outdoor, and from July 29th to August 3rd for tennis at the University Stadium of the University of Coimbra.

EUSA is represented by Liviu Matac, and the Technical Delegate(s) are Raquel Mascarenhas (Padel) and Tomas Pavlovsky (Tennis), Miha Zvan, EUSA Sports Manager, Marta Studzinska, Education Officer, and Stjepan Stimac, Results Management. They will make sure that the event runs smoothly and without problems.

The competition will host 14 men’s and 10 women’s teams in padel, and 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams in tennis, from 19 universities across 8 countries in padel (48 athletes), and 19 universities from 12 countries in tennis (95 athletes).

Expectations are high as athletes from across Europe gather to compete at the highest level of university sport, showcasing not only their athleticism but also the spirit of fair play, friendship, and cultural exchange.

The venue was alive with energy, marked by music, dance, and vibrant delegations proudly waving their flags, creating a truly international and festive atmosphere. The parade of universities drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience as each university delegation entered with pride and excitement.

The ceremony featured a captivating performance, presenting a vibrant display of Grupo de Fados e Guitarradas of the Fado Section of the Academic Association of Coimbra that reflected the cultural richness of the host city.

In line with EUSA’s commitment to sustainability, organisers implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, including digital information systems, reusable water stations, and waste separation zones across the competition venues.

The organisers hope the Championship will serve not only as a competitive platform but also as a legacy for future university sport in the region, inspiring young athletes and setting a benchmark for hosting international events.

More information can be found at https://padel2025.eusa.eu/ and https://tennis2025.eusa.eu/