GB no.2 Catherine Rose was “so proud” after clinching her first world tour title for over a year at last weekend’s FIP Bronze Singapore.
Catherine and Spanish partner Lucia Perez Parra went into the event as third seeds, but sliced all the way through the draw without dropping a set, including a performance in the final which the Londoner described as “a great mental barrier overcome.”
The final saw Catherine and Lucia face second seeds Carla Fernandez Gonzalez and Nerea Guerra Santana — a pair whom the Brit had lost against twice in Australia with Aimee Gibson in January, and once last year in Finland with Tia Norton.
Catherine told The Padel Paper: “When you’ve lost to a couple so many times in a row you start to disbelieve that you can beat them at all.
“Every single match I’ve had against them has been a long battle and really close. They’ve not come out in my favour, so I was really proud how I stepped up and performed this time.
“To win this one in two sets was really satisfying. It was good for my confidence and a good mental barrier to overcome.
“I held solid all the way through and had hardly any dips. When I did have one, I managed to recover really well. I think we executed a game plan really well. It was a satisfying one to win.”
Singapore was Catherine and Lucia’s fourth tournament together. Their partnership began in February after meeting at their mutual training base, the Diagonal Academy in Madrid.
“We’re starting a project together and each tournament has got better,” said Catherine.
“It’s one of the hardest parts of padel but also the most important; to find someone who’s got similar goals to you, is committed and wants to stick at it.
“People tend to chop and change if things don’t go well after a couple of tournaments. They’re always looking for something better. So it’s nice to find someone who wants to really work at a partnership and improve it together.
“We’ve already seen major improvements. I’m pleased with the way it’s going and I’m excited for the next few months with her. She’s really easy going, although I’m sure it must be exhausting for her to speak English all the time!”
Singapore marked the fourth FIP title of Catherine’s career so far — and her first without GB no.1 Aimee Gibson.
Next up for Catherine and Lucia is this week’s FIP Silver in Manilla, Philippines, then a FIP Bronze in Hong Kong.
“I am still loving it!” beamed the 26-year-old. “It’s obviously more enjoyable when you win. If you’re not winning it does become a bit demoralising.
“I haven’t had a title or made a final in over a year, so to make a final and have some really good wins is really nice for my confidence going forward.”
