By RJ Mitchell
JAVI SERRATS is determined to give GB international Nikhil Mohindra a winning send off when the duo pair up to compete at the HOP PRO Tour Middlesbrough event this weekend.
Mohindra is relocating to Alicante later this month where he will be based at the Bela Padel Academy which is run by Argentina’s former World No.1 Fernando Belasteguin and it is a move that Serrats, a former UK domestic No.1, has no doubt will pay off for the 21-year-old.
But first Serrats, who will be doubling up as tournament director on Teesside, is determined to give his partner a victory in the North East which will also give him the perfect platform for Team GB’s vital World Cup qualifying mission in Derby at the end of the month.
Interestingly enough the duo have never partnered up before but have faced each other in opposition on many occasions in the National League and Serrats is super-excited by the prospect of saying a victorious ‘Adios amigo!’ to his padel pal.
He said: “I know Nikhil is a very hard worker and now he is moving to Spain he will keep improving his level which he has done incredibly in the UK over the last two to three years. When he goes to Spain it will be even better for him working under a legend like Fernando Belasteguin at his academy.
“So, I think this will be his last tournament before his definitive move to Spain but I know he will be coming back for the World Championship qualifiers in Derby and he will also be back for more tournaments in the UK.
“Ahead of Derby it would be great for his confidence if we can get the win and send him off with a victory in Middlesborough and that is why we are playing – to win!
“Of course Nikhil is a key player in the GB men’s team and it will be great to play with him this weekend. I was previously No.1 in the (GB) rankings but now at 33 I have been focussing on business. But I always hoped to come back and play competitively.
“Middlesbrough is perfect for me to return as it is on our HOP Pro Tour and of course I am organising the event as a businessman but it is also one of the clubs where I have been playing for their club team in the National League for three years.
“So, I just felt it was the right place to play competitively again as Middlesborough has a special place in my sentiments and I have wanted to play a tournament with Nikhil for a long time but it just hasn’t happened and instead we have always faced each other in the league.
“But we have spoken so many times about partnering and at last it will happen this weekend. At 33 I still feel I have plenty to give and we will see at Middlesborough if that is the case.”
The No.2 seeded pair this weekend will be Alfonso Patacho and Frankie Langan with the former a previous partner of Serrats and the latter a one-time sidekick for Mohindra.
All of which should add up to a fascinating encounter if the two pairs are matched-up in the final: “Yes, it is interesting as Frankie was Nikhil’s last partner in the HOP Pro Tour at the NTC and Alfonso was my partner in the FIP Rise London,” said Serrats.
He continued: “So we know they will be tough to beat and that there will be other very good players who will be hungry to win at Middlesbrough but that is what we wanted when we created the HOP Pro Tour.
“Also we are hoping to have a HOP Pro Tour and HOP Tour Finals competition as a climax to both tours at the one venue and we are still talking to venues in this regard.
“This may be over a whole weekend but we want the pro players and the top amateurs playing and mixing together probably on October 22 and 23. We just want to create the great vibe of a big tournament.”
Serrats was also keen to pay tribute to the support received from Middlesbrough Padel Club and manager Nigel Garton in particular and he said: “Middlesbrough Padel Club has always been very enthusiastic, flexible, and keen to promote the sport and it is a club that is really pushing padel and its manager Nigel Garton is doing an incredible job.
“So a big thank you to them for letting us host a second event at their club after the HOP Tour event back in May.
“Also good luck to all the players, including myself! I am sure we are for a fantastic weekend of padel.”
