Breaking: Tom Murray hails ‘dynamic’ selection as Team GB is announced for World Qualifiers

By RJ Mitchell

LTA Head of Padel Tom Murray has hailed the UK men’s and women’s teams for the European qualification process of the XVI World Championship as “dynamic.”

The men’s team, who are second seeds for the tournament behind No.1 seeds Germany, will be led by British No.1 Christian Medina Murphy, with Richard Brooks, Louie Harris, Sam Jones, Sandy Farquharson, Nikhil Mohindra, Chris Salisbury, and Ryan Wyatt all selected.

In total, 17 male teams and 13 female teams will compete in the competition at Derby, with British No.1 Tia Norton leading the British challenge after she won her first international padel title alongside Spanish partner Carla Fitó Fernandez at the London Padel Open last month.

All of which has left Murray’s mouth-watering and he said: “This is an exciting and dynamic Great Britain squad full of players with huge potential. Having the European Qualification for the XVI World Padel Championship in this country continues the exciting momentum behind the sport in the UK right now after the successful staging of the first professional padel tournament at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre last month.

“The new We Are Padel Derby venue is an exciting addition to the rising number of courts we now have in the UK and we look forward to working with FIP on the delivery of the event.”

GB ace Nikhil Mohindra who was unbeaten in three-matches at the last World Championships admitted his inclusion had left him “super-excited” coming just 24-hours after he had won the HOP Middlesbrough tournament: “I am super-excited, and I couldn’t be more pumped and hopefully we can make home advantage count and edge our way to Qatar.

“It was absolutely unbelievable when the World Champs were held there last year and I’d love to get back. l was unbeaten last time, I played in three matches against the USA, Qatar and Poland and came through with a 100% record so I’d love more of that.

“It will be tough with Sweden and Portugal involved as they should have already qualified but for whatever reason that was not the case and with only three teams qualifying and them in the draw that is going to make it a challenge but we have to believe in ourselves.”

Meanwhile women’s No.1 Norton, who was the first recipient of the first Padel Award at this year’s LTA Tennis Awards ceremony, will be joined on the British team by Hannah Ruddick, Olivia Smith, Claire Smith, Abigail Tordoff, Lisa Phillips, Libby Fletcher, and Catherine Rose.

The Great Britain team are second seeds for the tournament, with Denmark as top seeds and Norton said: “The LTA held such an incredible event at the London Padel Open, so I want to thank them for putting on such a great event, and of course to come away with a win at such a professional event, the first professional event in the UK.

“It’s always nice winning on home turf but this one feels a little bit special. For now, I am going to be based in the UK a bit more, just continue competing, training and keep doing the same. This isn’t the end; it is only the beginning of a long journey ahead.”

The LTA, the governing body for padel in Britain, was awarded the rights the right to host the prestigious European qualifying event by the International Padel Federation (FIP) last month and We Are Padel Derby, the largest padel venue in Britain that features 11 courts, was chosen as the host venue.

Teams that progress from the qualifying competition will take their place at the XVI World Padel Championship, to be held from October 31 to November 5 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar.

Rosco Muller, Country manager of We Are Padel in the UK, said: “We are delighted to be the host of this amazing event. My team is already preparing to make sure everything is ready in September. As We Are Padel is on boarding in the UK with our beautiful sport and it’s events like these that will create the perfect awareness for Padel. Together with the FIP, the LTA & LEDAP we will make sure to be the best host possible.”

Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation said: “This championship is the example of what Padel is nowadays, with each World Championship breaking the record of participants, and the qualifications are more and more important each edition. To be in Britain with such an event will help to boost our beloved sport and it will prepare our members for bigger challenges.”