The dramatic story: Sweden reaches quarterfinals after being eliminated

The 2022 Padel World Championship was full of unexpected events. Two months before the tournament, the venue changed, creating confusion among participants. But the biggest drama unfolded when Sweden almost lost its place in the quarterfinals, only to be reinstated hours later.

The Swedish women's team secured their spot in the tournament after a successful qualification in September. The squad, featuring veteran Carolina Navarro Björk, had a strong start in Dubai, defeating France, UAE, and Paraguay. However, after a loss to Brazil, Sweden ended up tied with Brazil and France, all with nine points.

Late on November 2, it seemed Sweden’s tournament was over due to set-count calculations that advanced France and Brazil. But after reviewing the rules overnight, the Swedish team challenged the decision, arguing that the  set-count should have worked in their favor.

After a meeting with tournament officials the next morning, the decision was overturned, and Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals. Despite losing to Argentina in the quarters, Sweden’s placement improved significantly thanks to the rule reversal.