Three hours on court. Three sets. A place in the Asian Games quarterfinals at stake. On September 30, 2026, Saudi padel player Alanoud Yamani and her doubles partner Areej Khalil Fareh faced Thailand in Nagoya, Japan. After winning the opening set and losing a close second, the Saudi pair held their nerve in the deciding tiebreak to secure a 6–1, 6–7, 7–6 victory. The result was a significant moment for Saudi Arabia as padel made its Asian Games debut.
For Yamani, captain of the Saudi women's national padel team and an AlUla Club player, it was another milestone in a career shaped by domestic titles, regional medals, and international competition.
A Sporting Journey Built on Shared Ambition
From Childhood Competition to Padel
Born on November 3, 1997, Alanoud Yamani has built her sporting career around competitive padel. But her commitment to sport began long before her appearances on the international circuit. One of the most distinctive parts of her story is her shared sporting journey with her husband, Hani Alhalawani. The couple have competed in sports together since childhood, before eventually marrying and specializing in padel. Their shared interest developed into a serious competitive commitment, with both pursuing success in their respective men's and women's categories.
Four Hours of Training, One Shared Goal
In October 2024, the couple as they prepared for the third edition of the Saudi Games. The Saudi Games offered the couple an opportunity to compete at home for medals and substantial prize money, with a combined SAR 2 million at stake in their pursuit of gold.
"We work and train hard because we have set a clear goal: to win gold."
She also highlighted the importance of having such competitions in Saudi Arabia, describing them as opportunities for women to prove their abilities, compete, and continue developing their performance. Her preparation reflected an approach built on consistent training and clear competitive goals.
Major Achievements and Competitive Milestones
Alanoud Yamani's career has progressed through domestic championships, regional podium finishes, and international appearances. Her results show how she has developed from competing in Saudi tournaments to representing the Kingdom at major continental events.
2024 — Saudi Games Women's Doubles Semifinalist
At the third Saudi Games in Riyadh, Yamani competed in the women's doubles event alongside Najwa Salhab. The pair advanced to the semifinals and participated in the bronze-medal stage of the tournament. Although the available records do not confirm a medal finish, reaching the final four marked a competitive achievement in one of Saudi Arabia's major multisport events. For Yamani, who had entered the tournament after months of preparation alongside her husband, the appearance reflected her continued commitment to domestic competition.
2025 — Saudi Padel Ranking Championship Gold
In June 2025, Alanoud Yamani and Areej Fareh won the women's title at the third Saudi Padel Ranking Championship in Riyadh. Organized by the Saudi Padel Committee, the championship brought together players from different parts of the Kingdom. Their victory established another important result in Yamani's domestic record and highlighted a partnership that would become central to her subsequent achievements. Fareh and Yamani continued competing together in Saudi and international events, building a record of success across multiple tournaments.
2025 — A Historic Gulf Padel Cup Bronze Medal
In 2025, Alanoud Yamani helped Saudi Arabia secure bronze at the Arabian Gulf Padel Cup in Doha, Qatar. The result was especially significant because it was reported as the first official medal in the history of Saudi women's padel. The bronze-medal contest against the United Arab Emirates lasted more than three hours. Yamani and Fareh won their doubles match 7–6, 7–5, contributing to Saudi Arabia's historic podium finish. The medal represented an important step for the women's national team as it continued gaining experience against regional opponents. For Yamani, it added a national-team achievement to her domestic competitive success.
January–March 2026 — A Winning Run in Saudi Championships
Alanoud Yamani entered 2026 with a series of domestic victories that demonstrated her consistency. In January, she partnered with Fareh to win the women's competition at the first Saudi Padel Ranking Championship in Al Khobar. Their success continued in March when they claimed first place at the Al Qadsiah Ramadan Padel Championship. Competing against other leading domestic pairs, they finished ahead of Samaher Kurdi and Sarah Salhab, who took second place.
Just days later, Yamani and Fareh won the women's title at the second Saudi Padel Ranking Championship in Jeddah, held from March 3 to 7. Three tournament victories in the opening months of the year reinforced their standing as one of Saudi Arabia's successful women's doubles pairings. Yamani and Fareh also claimed the women's Category A title at the fourth Saudi ranking championship in Al Khobar later in 2026.
May 2026 — Silver at the GCC Games in Doha
Another major achievement followed at the fourth GCC Games in Doha, held in May 2026. Saudi Arabia's women's national padel team secured the silver medal, finishing behind Kuwait and ahead of the United Arab Emirates. Yamani was part of the Saudi squad alongside Fatimah Alharbi, Basmah Alhuwaish, Lina Abdul Latif, Samaher Kurdi, and Sarah Salhab. The result added another regional medal to her national-team career, following the previous year's Gulf Padel Cup bronze. The silver medal also reflected the growing competitiveness of Saudi women's padel within the Gulf.
September 2026 — Asian Games Quarterfinalist
Alanoud Yamani achieved one of her most notable international results at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The event marked padel's first appearance at the Asian Games, providing an important new stage for the sport's development across the continent. Representing Saudi Arabia in women's doubles, Yamani and Fareh faced Thailand's Narkpraset and Srirungreang in a demanding three-set encounter.
The Saudi pair won the first set 6–1 before Thailand responded in the second. With the match tied, Yamani and Fareh prevailed in the deciding-set tiebreak to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Following the victory, Yamani told the International Padel Federation:
"It was not easy to win, but we kept trying until we succeeded."
The pair's campaign ended against Japan's Saki Tsukamoto and Kae Tokumoto, who went on to win the women's doubles gold medal. Although Saudi Arabia did not reach the podium, the quarterfinal appearance gave Yamani and Fareh valuable experience at a major continental competition.
October 2026 — Another Saudi Ranking Championship Victory
Alanoud Yamani continued her domestic success after returning from Japan. At the sixth Saudi Padel Ranking Championship in Jeddah in October 2026, she partnered with Candela to win the women's Category A competition. The pair finished ahead of Basmah Alhuwaish and Mayar Tawfiq, who secured second place. The title demonstrated Yamani's ability to maintain her competitive form across different doubles partnerships while balancing domestic tournaments with international commitments.
Competing on the International Professional Circuit
Beyond national-team competitions, Alanoud Yamani has been developing her professional career through tournaments recognized by the International Padel Federation (FIP). Her competitive record includes appearances at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, FIP Silver Dubai, FIP Bronze Abu Dhabi, FIP Bronze Doha, FIP Bronze Bahrain, and FIP Bronze Playa in Egypt.
In February 2026, she competed at the Riyadh Season P1, reaching the round of 32 alongside Fareh. She also recorded round-of-16 appearances at FIP events in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Egypt during the year. These tournaments exposed Yamani to international opposition and the standards of professional padel outside Saudi Arabia. While she has yet to win an international FIP Tour title, her participation reflects a commitment to competing beyond the domestic circuit.
Leading the Saudi Women's National Padel Team
Representing the Kingdom as Captain
Alongside her competitive achievements, Yamani serves as captain of the Saudi women's national padel team. Her role places her among the athletes representing a developing sport at a time when Saudi Arabia is expanding opportunities for women to compete internationally. As captain, she has been part of national-team campaigns across the Gulf and Asia, including competitions that have produced important results for Saudi women's padel. Her experience at domestic championships and international tournaments contributes to the team's growing competitive profile.
A Successful Partnership with Areej Fareh
One of the defining relationships in Yamani's competitive career has been her partnership with Areej Khalil Fareh. Together, they have won multiple Saudi ranking championships, contributed to national-team competition, and represented the Kingdom at the Asian Games. Their success highlights the importance of teamwork in doubles padel, where communication and coordinated play are central to competitive performance. The partnership has become an important part of Yamani's career as she continues competing on domestic and international stages.
Beyond the Court: AlUla Club and a Growing Public Profile
Representing AlUla Club
Yamani also identifies herself as a player for AlUla Club, connecting her international and national-team career with Saudi club sport. The affiliation forms part of her identity as a competitive athlete and reflects the wider network of clubs and organizations involved in the development of sport across the Kingdom. As padel continues gaining popularity, club representation and organized national competitions provide athletes with opportunities to build their competitive careers.
Building a Personal Brand Through Sport
Outside competition, Alanoud Yamani has developed a substantial presence on social media. Her digital presence also includes the personal side of her life. Yamani and her husband share content about their daily experiences, interests, and involvement in sport. This visibility gives Yamani an opportunity to connect with audiences beyond those who follow professional padel. It also makes her part of a generation of Saudi athletes building public recognition through both sporting achievements and digital platforms. For an emerging sport such as padel, recognizable athletes can play an important role in attracting attention and encouraging more people to discover the game.
Alanoud Yamani and the Future of Saudi Women's Padel
Alanoud Yamani's journey reflects the growing opportunities available to women in Saudi sport. Domestic ranking championships have provided her with competitive experience, while regional tournaments and international events have offered opportunities to test her abilities against opponents from other countries.
For young Saudi athletes, Yamani's story shows that competitive progress is built through consistent training, experience, and the determination to improve. As women's padel continues to grow in the Kingdom, Alanoud Yamani is among the athletes helping establish its competitive presence on the international stage.
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