Aimee Gibson’s latest Cupra FIP RISE tour event ended in hospital after she was taken ill following a semi-final exit in Cairo.
The British no.2, who was playing alongside Portugal’s Clarinha Santos, started to suffer the effects of a stomach infection just after losing 6-3 6-2 to Catarina Vilela and Maria Perez on Saturday.
After spending several hours in hospital, Aimee spent a couple of days recuperating before flying back to the UK on Tuesday.
Earlier in the tournament, Aimee and Clarinha had beaten British no.1 Tia Norton and Dutchwoman Maaike Betz 7-6 1-6 6-0 in the last 16, before knocking out a Japanese pairing in straight sets in the quarter-finals.
Catherine Rose and Victoria Nicholas bowed out 6-2 4-6 6-1 to Portugal’s Catarina Domingos and Mexican Camilla Coellar in the last 16.
Elsewhere, last weekend it was the fourth LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 event of the year at Guernsey Padel Club, where Louie Harris and Rafael Vega lifted the men’s title, while Helen Crook and Victoria Davies succeeded in the women’s.
In the men’s draw of 32 pairs, the final saw second-seeded Louie and Rafa defeated the British third seeded team Sam MacNeil and Chris Salisbury in a close match that finished 7-6(5) 6-4.
After winning their second LTA Grade 1 event of 2024, Rafa said: “They played really well in the last set, but we stuck with them.” Harris added: “For me, it’s my first time here. It’s definitely one I want to come back to again.”
Top British seeds Helen and Victoria had an impressive tournament, dropping only a single set all weekend. In the final, they came up against the second seeds Sophie Cousins and Angela Wood to claim the title 6-2 6-4. Helen said: “We’re really pleased, we used to play tennis together in doubles 30 years ago. It was quite fun to get on the padel court together.”
Dominic Woolland, Guernsey Padel Club Tournament Organiser said: “The weather was kind to us and we had some spectacular play to entertain the generous crowds that come down to support and watch padel in Guernsey.”
