Team GB ladies’ seniors manager Sally Fisher said her golden girls are “right in the mix” with Europe’s best after finishing fourth in the inaugural Plaza Padel Nations Cup in Amsterdam last weekend.
The Brits pushed eventual winners Sweden all the way in their opening tie, with two of the four rubbers going to final-set championship tie-breaks; the Scandinavians winning both 10-8.
Despite former Wimbledon tennis ace Abi Tordoff being sidelined with a flu virus following the first foray, GB bounced back strongly with a 4-0 victory over Germany.
But there was to be another serving of tie-break torment against Belgium, when two more final set shoot-outs went against the Brits in a 3-1 loss which was followed by another tight 3-1 reverse at the hands of runners-up the Netherlands.
Yet Fisher has no doubt that all of her team’s key goals were achieved. She said: “What matters is that we are right there in the mix now and for Team GB fourth place feels like a great outcome even if we are a bit sore on these two near misses!
“We had three big goals coming in to the Nations Cup, which was firstly to gain international match practice, knowing that we had some of the best countries in Europe competing. Secondly we wanted to be able to assess our level following on from the World Championships in Las Vegas – we knew that we had made vast improvements but we wanted to gauge that. Finally, of course, we wanted to do as well as we could.
“Against Sweden, the champions and pre-tournament favourites, we came very close to getting a 2-2 draw. Although that was very frustrating, it also showed that we can really compete with the very best in European padel.
“In the Belgium match there were again two championship tie-breaks and we lost one 11-9 and the other 10-5, so when you look back at that we could have won that match 3-1. But the match-play was focussed, intensive and competitive yet always friendly.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to Libby Fletcher for doing a great job captaining the team and also to all our players who all played at the top of their game.”
A second edition of the Nations Cup is a certainty although the host nation is yet to be decided. The Padel Paper can reveal that France have applied for inclusion in the tournament’s second iteration.
Fisher was co-organiser of the Nations Cup with the Netherlands’ Mirjam van Roer and the Dutch captain was delighted with every aspect of the tournament.
“I am proud that the first Nations Cup for senior international women from 40 + through to 55 + was such a success,” she said. “It was wonderful to see the collaboration, friendships and competitive yet fair play of spirit.
“Plaza Padel Amsterdam provided a superb venue for the event with eight excellent courts, and a great cafe area overlooking the courts, which helped create a fantastic atmosphere for the tournament.”
Sweden won a very closely-fought final against the Netherlands courtesy of a single championship tie-break 11-9 win.
GB skipper Libby Fletcher has no doubt about the value of competition against the cream of the continental crop. She said: “We have had a fantastic weekend of the highest standard padel against tough European teams. It was a huge success for team GB in terms of learning and gaining International experience. Now we have a clear plan for developing our players and the team for future events.”
Stratford Padel Club’s Helen Crook believes the quality on show left some of the spectators flabbergasted at times. She said: “There were some unbelievable rallies. I must have watched at least three which were over 75 strokes. The spirit the whole tournament was played in was just perfect and a brilliant level of sportsmanship was displayed and observed throughout.”
Stratford Padel Club’s Jo Ward said: “We must do everything we can to bring a little bit of Amsterdam back to our own nations to help grow the female game domestically.”
For Victoria Davies (Stratford Padel Club) the blend of competition and sportsmanship proved the perfect combination: “What struck me was that despite the fact every match was highly competitive and of the highest standard they were all played in the most respectful manner.”
Oxshott’s Anthea Hunt added: “Huge congratulations and thanks to Sally and Mirjam. It was an awesome experience for everyone and exceptionally well run but also very sociable and our team has bonded together very well but we have also met and made new friends.”
