The line-up for this week’s first ever Pro Am Padel Tour event at Roehampton Club has been revealed – and it’s a veritable galaxy of stars.
There are eight pairings for the inaugural event at the deluxe south-west London venue, where the cream of GB padel will partner World Cup winners, Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists and media personalities.
TalkSPORT, the world’s largest sports radio station, will be covering the event during Wednesday’s Hawksbee and Jacobs afternoon show.
The first pairing at Roehampton will be former England rugby union captain Chris Robshaw, who will partner GB No.3 Louie Harris.
Robshaw made 66 appearances for England in an 18-year career. The Kerslake Robshaw Foundation, founded by Robshaw and his wife Camilla Kerslake, the Brit-nominated soprano, is guest charity partner of the event.
Next up is badminton star Gail Emms MBE, Olympic silver medallist as well as Commonwealth Games, World and European champion. Since ending her playing career she is now a popular media personality and public speaker. She will be reprising her racket skills alongside GB padel international Catherine Rose.
Rugby World Cup winner Vicky Fleetwood – also a former junior hurdler and personal trainer – will partner four-time LTA Grade One winner Aimee Gibson.
Also competing will be outspoken TalkSPORT radio presenter and former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan. An experienced padel player, his partnership with GB No.1 Christian Murphy looks powerful.
Equally potent will be the pairing of GB women’s No.1 Tia Norton and Chelsea and England goalkeeper Carly Telford. Carly was part of the Lionesses squad at three FIFA Women’s World Cups.
Also on the bill is Nick Compton, former England Test batsman. The South African-born star finished his cricket career in 2018 with a first-class average of over 40. His razor-sharp hand-eye coordination should come in handy alongside world No.184 padel star Sam Jones.
Samuel Ward, Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the GB hockey team in 2018, is next on the bill. One of the deadliest finishers in world hockey with 83 international goals, Samuel will partner GB international Chris Salisbury.
Last but not least is another name from British hockey’s hall of fame – Sophie Bray MBE, an Olympic gold medal winner at Rio 2016 with Team GB and twice a medallist at the Commonwealth Games. She plays with Spain’s Carlo Fito Fernandez.
The Pro-Am Padel Tour has also announced that its charity partner for 2023 will be Rackets Cubed, who deliver education, nutrition and racket sport programmes to children in underprivileged areas of Britain (and recently started their first padel programme!)
After this week’s launch event, the inaugural series will move on to further venues throughout the summer across the UK.
