GB teens take on FIP Promises challenge
Four of the UK’s most promising young padel players are preparing for what will be their most challenging matches so far as they participate in their first international event – a FIP Promises – at Alicante’s Club Atletico Montemar.
Chloe De La Mare and Rosie Quirk, together with Stan Hunt and Chloe’s brother Liam, are competing in their respective Under 16s categories against some of the best teenage players in the world.
All are key members of the 50-strong GB junior squad and are being supported at the tournament by their coach Dan Troy, of DT Padel Academy, who with the players’ families was involved in making the decision to enter the tournament.
He said the aim of the trip was to benchmark the teens against young Europeans in order to establish coaching objectives.
“Until we compare ourselves to other junior Europeans we don’t know what to do in terms of coaching and progression,” Dan told The Bandeja. “The talent in all of them is there and it is crazy in terms of what they can do.
“At this moment in time it is about enjoying their padel, learning and competing. Winning doesn’t matter, they are 14 and 15 years old. As long as they are enjoying it they will have the hunger to keep going. I know how good they are, they are fantastic and they are great kids,” added Dan, who pointed out that some players being called into the GB set-up now are in their early 20s, giving Liam, Stan, Rosie and Chloe a number of years to develop their game.
“We can’t be worried about winning. It’s learning, learning, learning and focussing on getting better,” added Dan, who feels each of the four has the potential to consider cracking the world top 100 in due course.
Draws
Chloe and Rosie face Sofia Hernandez/Julia Carrillo in their first round match, scheduled for Friday (July 12th).
Stan and Liam scored a bye in the first round but face incredibly tough opposition in the second round, taking on second seeds Spanish pairing Aaron Garcia Rubio/Jose Domingo Martinez Garcia. Aaron is ranked No 2 in FIP’s U14 junior rankings and Jose 79th.
But Dan isn’t phased by this strength of opposition: “I think it is fantastic that they have a difficult draw. The main reason we wanted to take them out there is to see where they are at and how we compare to the Spanish and some of the other Europeans. Go against the best and see – you never know.”
And the advice he will be giving the youngsters as they head out on to court? “Play your game and go for it!”
Preparation
All four teenagers have had a positive build up to the FIP tournament, with time on court with GB pros at the recent Pro Am in Ilford and wins at a recent adidas HOP competition in Slough.
At that event Stan secured victory in the U16s category partnering Sholto Sen for the first time. He then went on to partner fellow teen and Essex club-mate Ben Welsford in the event’s men’s Grade 2, with the pairing taking their first round match 6-1 6-2 against Max and Nicholas Warner but falling 6-0 6-0 in the second round to third seeds Ethan Bardo and Willy Slayrd.
Chloe and Rosie also lifted the trophy in the HOP U16s girl’s tournament, chalking up a comfortable 6-0 6-0 win over sisters Naomi and Natalie Aldaz. They too went on to play in the Grade 2 and came within a whisker of winning their opening match against Alicia Hazzard and Roxy Keshavarz, but ultimately went down 4-6 6-4 8-10.
LTA position
The players have travelled to Alicante independent of the LTA, padel’s governing body in Britain. It has drawn criticism for not entering a British team into the FIP Junior European Championships in Budapest this September, with parents questioning what the squad is training for and the LTA’s plans for it.
Tom Murray, Head of Padel at the LTA, is based in Alicante but currently in the UK recruiting for a Padel Manager to join his team. He said he intends to follow the progress of the British players in Spain. When asked to comment on their participation in the FIP Promises he said: “There isn’t an official British junior team as we don’t select junior teams as of yet, but this is something we are keen to develop over the coming years as the pool of players gets larger and with a greater talent depth.
“Players are now invited to national camps as part of the LTA’s junior pathway programme and more experienced junior players are being encouraged to start competing in FIP Promises events.”
He added that past experience informed the LTA’s current position to not send players to international tournaments until considered ready. 🎾
