GB No.1 Tia Norton lifted her first FIP Tour trophy of 2024 with victory alongside Spain’s Sylvia Lopez Vidal at the FIP Promotion Sharjah.
Teaming up with world no.223 Sylvia for the first time, the 20-year-old from Leamington Spa topped the podium in the United Arab Emirates and earned 15 points in her continuing quest to break into the world’s top 100 (she is currently no.137).
Third seeds Tia and Sylvia didn’t drop a set throughout the whole tournament, sailing through their quarter-final and semi-final with respective 6-1 6-2 and 6-0 6-4 scorelines.
They faced Argentinian duo Gimena Perez and Maria Constanza Vega in the final, taking it 6-3 7-5.
Tia told The Padel Paper: “I was really chuffed to get this win playing with Sylvia for the first time. Coming into the tournament as third seeds we knew we had a chance but had a couple of strong pairs seeded above us, as well as the rest of the draw.
“In the final everything clicked, we kept great communication between the team, stayed calm and focused and we managed to get the win 2-0. Thanks to all the tournament organisers and sponsors who made this event happen. I look forward to more tournaments happening in the UAE and returning in the foreseeable future.”
Tia’s fellow Brit Aimee Gibson also enjoyed a fine run in Sharjah, reaching the semi-finals with Paula Canivell Varona, with whom she has enjoyed success in recent months.
Fourth seeds Aimee and Paula were just one win away from setting up a first ever Brit v Brit final on the FIP Tour, but they went down 7-6(7) 4-6 6-0 to Perez and Vega.
Aimee told us: “It was a positive tournament. Going into the semis we knew it was going to be a tough match as they were both ex professional players turned coaches and they had beaten the number two seeds in the round before.
“It was a really hard-fought match; we lost the first set 7-6 after having six set points and being 6-1 up in the tiebreak. We fought really hard and won the second 6-4 and unfortunately we couldn’t bring our level to the third set and we lost 6-0. I was really positive after this match though because I was able to compete at a high level.”
