Legends Padel held what’s thought to be the UK’s first ever singles padel tournament last weekend in Nottingham.
Pure Padel Nottingham has four doubles courts and three singles courts, which are the same length (20m) but only 6m wide, compared to the 10m width of doubles courts.
Legends Padel, who organise training camps and competitions for age categories from 60+ upwards, held the singles event alongside its 60+ and 65+ national league finals.
Fifty-seven senior players came from all over the country came to try out the rarely-seen singles format — and it took only a couple of matches for the differences to the conventional doubles game to become clear.
Nicky Horn, who organises Legends Padel events with founder Sally Fisher, said: “”After just 40 minutes the difference was obvious – it is so much more tiring!
“Sweat and red faces suggested that singles padel is much more of a work out than doubles padel!”
Kate Beaumont, the inaugural Legends Padel women’s singles champion, highlighted another difference: “We go on a padel court expecting a doubles court, but immediately we see the width of the court is narrower.
“Our brains then form a dimension of the length of the court based on our experience and the width. We start playing and come up to net, then we realise the singles court is not in proportion to the doubles court, the length is the same as the doubles court! We need to stay back.”
Indeed, that is what players quickly learned – the singles game is quite different. But the feedback was hugely positive. “I really enjoyed the singles, do the LTA run singles events ? I want to play again,” said 62-year-old Didi Hyde.
The men’s tournament took place in the afternoon and comments were along similar lines.
“I started with serve and volley, but after three games I realised it wasn’t sustainable so stayed at the back.
“I am thinking the singles game helps doubles because it forces move middle shots and fewer angles, so fewer errors. Its exhausting!”
An hour was sufficient time to play best of three sets with golden deuce and a championship tie break at 1-1.
Serves to the glass were difficult to retrieve because of the lack of width of the court. Playing down the middle and from the back was the way to play rather than from the net.
The game was cat and mouse who could keep the ball going and then get a corner winner, play a drop shot or force an error from the opponent.
The final was played between Paul Bisping and John Prenn. Each hit the ball patiently deep down the middle and waited. Rallies of over 20 shots were normal.
As the minutes counted down to the end and players wanted to come on court the players agreed a 1-1 draw – the first ever men’s singles padel tournament with two champion players.
