TOM MURRAY has hailed the World Championship European Qualifiers as the perfect long weekend.
The LTA’s Head of Padel joined the Team GB men’s squad on court for wild celebrations after their epic victory over Germany secured the last ticket for the World Championships in Dubai in around a month last night.
Today he savoured a perfect drama-infused finale to a weekend of – on occasion – astounding padel, which at times seemed to defy the laws of physics, such was the dynamism of movement, sleight of hand and softness of touch.
With the decibel level regularly threatening to raise the roof as the Portuguese, Dutch and Swedish all howled in victorious delight at their qualifications, all that was needed was a British success and when John Leach’s men stunned the Germans, they proved the old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold, and the weekend had been provided with its perfect garnish.
Add to that a host venue that proved supremely fit for the purpose, and there was no doubt why Murray had more than a few reasons to be cheerful, saying: “I had hoped that everything would go to plan as lots of variables crop up and have to be dealt with, but this weekend had it all.
“What a way to make the World Championships by claiming the last qualification place after the final match on the deciding set. Really it couldn’t have been more dramatic and I am just delighted for our men’s Head Coach John Leach, his coaching team and all of the players.
“Their preparation has stood them in good stead for everything they have faced and Christian (Murphy) and Sam (Jones) showed nerves of steel to come through at the end of the day.
“It is just a really exciting prospect to look forward to us going to Dubai and to do it the hard way by coming through qualification and beating a strong and determined German team in the process is very satisfying.”
Murray was also keen to offer words of solace and encouragement to GB Ladies Head Coach Alvaro Guerrero and his girls after they were dealt a particularly cruel draw that saw a Swedish side led by the legendary Carolina Navarro, the former World No.1 of 13-years, firmly close the route to Dubai.
The LTA’s Head of Padel said: “The girls have gone out to an excellent Sweden side who were inspired by Carolina Navarro, who was an exceptional World No.1 over many years. But the great thing is there are only really two players who have been in the side for a long period and were at Qatar last year.
“That is because we are developing and progressing new players into the group and it is great to see these new girls coming through and the strengthening of the squad and that is in no small part down to the work of Alvaro and now his assistant Max Lutostanski is also having a positive impact in this regard.
“But the Ladies team will look to learn and grow from their experiences in Derby over the weekend and I am sure that is something that will help them to continue to improve.”
When it came to We Are Padel Derby, the sports’ new 11-court UK super-venue, which proved the perfect facility for the biggest ever padel event to be held in GB, Murray has no doubt that the weekend just gone will be the first of many to come.
He said: “For us these kind of events are key for the sport and padel’s success in the UK. It is just tremendous that we have been able to stage the European World Championship qualifiers this early in our development and it has been a weekend filled with fantastic padel, many emotions and real drama.
“Everything you could want from a tournament of this stature and for me that means we have had a very successful weekend.
“As a venue We Are Padel have really come through for us and we want to host as many of these type of events at Derby as they will want to hold but again, as a venue it has proven perfect over the weekend.”
