BY RJ Mitchell
GB international Louie Harris is determined to make the most of home comforts at the National Tennis Centre tomorrow when he and partner Sam Jones kick-off their campaign at the FIP RISE London Padel Open.
Harris won the National Club League at Roehampton last year and has been training there with fellow Team GB members ahead of this week’s action.
Speaking exclusively to The Padel Paper he revealed just how important some inside information on the nuances of the courts at the NTC could well be to his all-Brit pairing with Sam Jones as they bid to get off to an emphatic start against a qualifying duo.
Harris said: “Particularly as I have been training with Sam at the NTC this week I am very well aware about how the ball is bouncing on the courts, just how the glare of the sun impacts on the glass in terms of your vision and when there is wind how it can swirl.
“The temperature in London has been in the mid-20s but the conditions have been humid and in this respect it will be important to hit the ground running and really produce our best in the opening match to conserve our energy and make sure we have the best chance of going as deep as possible in the draw.
“Playing qualifiers can go two ways for you as they have also played themselves into the tournament but if they have a few hours in their legs from the day before then that can work in your favour.
“But what Sam and I must focus on is getting the basics right and making sure that we give nothing away. I have good memories of winning the National Club League last year and Sam and I are here to go all the way – 100%!”
There will be plenty of British interest in the main draw tomorrow with Team GB No.1 Christian Murphy and Spanish partner Javi Navarro Perez facing Maxime Deloyer and Maxime Moreau.
Domestic UK No.1 Nikhil Mohindra and Sandy Farquharson face Johannes Lindmeyer and Matthias Wunner.
Meanwhile LTA Head of Padel Tom Murray tonight hailed the standard of play in the FIP Rise London Padel Open qualifiers as “exceptional”.
With a myriad of padel nations represented in the opening action the competition proved cut-throat as the qualifiers battled it out to join the Spanish Qatari top seeded duo of Raul Marcos Duran and Mohammed Saadon Alkuwari in the 32-man main draw.
The London Padel Open is part of the Cupra FIP (International Padel Federation) Tour and features a combined men’s and women’s event with a 9000 Euro prize-fund that will be split equally between male and female entrants.
LTA Head of Padel Murray was impressed with the action at the National Tennis Centre which has undergone a padel takeover and he said: “We’re really delighted with day one completing all the qualie matches. The standard of play is exceptional and we are very pleased to welcome so many competitors from the best of Britain and right across the world.
“The level from the first – round today was very high and I’m really excited to see the main draw kick off tomorrow. We are thrilled with the players feedback so far which has been overwhelmingly positive and they have been blown away by the facilities at this level of event which we are really proud of.”
