The short version
Eight players is the gold standard for americano. The math works out by itself: 8 divided by 4 fills exactly two courts, so nobody sits out — everyone plays every single round from the first serve to the last. And with seven rounds the partner puzzle works out too: each player gets every one of the other seven as a partner exactly once.
The timing is easy to plan. A round to 24 points usually takes 15–20 minutes, changeovers included. Five rounds therefore comes to 75–100 minutes — about right for ninety minutes on court — while the full seven-round rotation takes 105–140 minutes and fits best when you have booked two hours.
Below you will find the complete schedule, how the rotation is worked out, and what happens if you end up being seven or nine after all.
The math
Four numbers that finish the planning before you have packed your bag.
Two courts — eight players divided by four fills exactly two courts, every round.
No sit-outs — the numbers work out, so everyone plays every round from start to finish.
Seven rounds — the full rotation: each player partners all seven others exactly once.
15–20 minutes per round — five rounds takes 75–100 minutes, all seven takes 105–140.
The schedule
The table was generated by PadelFlow's americano engine for eight players on two courts. The names are examples — the pattern is the point: a new partner every round, and nobody sits out.
| Round | Court 1 | Court 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna + Bruno vs Carla + David | Emma + Felix vs Greta + Hugo |
| 2 | Anna + Emma vs Bruno + Felix | Carla + Greta vs David + Hugo |
| 3 | Anna + Carla vs Emma + Greta | Bruno + David vs Felix + Hugo |
| 4 | Anna + Greta vs Bruno + Hugo | Carla + Emma vs David + Felix |
| 5 | Anna + Felix vs Carla + Hugo | Bruno + Emma vs David + Greta |
| 6 | Anna + Hugo vs David + Emma | Bruno + Greta vs Carla + Felix |
| 7 | Anna + David vs Felix + Greta | Bruno + Carla vs Emma + Hugo |
After seven rounds all eight have played seven matches and sat out zero rounds. Follow Anna down the table: Bruno in round 1, then Emma, Carla, Greta, Felix, Hugo and finally David — each of the other seven as a partner exactly once. The same pattern holds for every single player.
Here is how the engine works: rounds are built one at a time, and each time it picks the combination with the least repetition — new partners weigh heaviest, new opponents second, and finally play time is balanced between the teams. The results you enter only count in the standings; in americano the score never decides who you play with. If you would rather have the standings shape the courts, mexicano is your format.
If you end up with a different count, there is nothing to work out by hand. With 9 or 10 players on two courts the bench rotates automatically and the gap in matches played stays at one at most; with 12 or 16 the math works out again with no bench. Pick your count in the strip at the top, read the full rules on the americano page, or jump straight to the americano generator and enter your own names.
FAQ
Seven rounds gives the full rotation: every player has partnered each of the other seven exactly once. Nothing is locked in, though — PadelFlow generates rounds one at a time, so you can stop after five rounds or keep going past seven, and the leaderboard crowns a winner either way.
Allow 15–20 minutes per round with matches played to 24 points. Five rounds takes roughly 75–100 minutes, and the full seven-round rotation takes about 105–140 minutes. With a two-hour court booking you will usually fit all seven rounds.
No. Eight players fill two courts exactly, so everyone plays every single round. Sit-outs only appear when the player count is not divisible by four — with 9 or 10 players, for example, PadelFlow rotates the bench automatically.
Yes. Americano in PadelFlow supports 4–32 players on 1–8 courts. When the numbers do not fill the courts exactly, the app runs the bench: whoever has played the least goes on court first, so the gap in matches played stays at one at most.
You can, but then only four play at a time and four sit out each round. The app rotates the bench fairly, yet the evening yields far fewer matches per player — with eight players, two courts is by far the better setup.
Ready?
Set up the session right in the browser — free, no signup, and the next round is generated once the scores are in. Prefer an app? PadelFlow is on the App Store.
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