Medina Murphy eyes up top 100 for 2024
British No 1 Christian Medina Murphy has revealed his season’s ambition is to finally break into the world’s top 100. Lee McLaughlan reports.
Currently ranked 136th in the FIP rankings, the 25-year-old Alicante-based player has revealed his schedule will be targeted on the new-look Premier Padel season, which begins in Riyadh this week.
The elite circuit is the obvious choice for Murphy to achieve his ambitions given the opportunity to seize more ranking points and he is optimistic he can make significant inroads this season alongside his regular playing partner Belar Vera Lopez.
Murphy said: “My target for this year is trying to go to top 100. Obviously other players are pushing so hard, the sport is growing so fast with many new players, so the goal is certainly tough because you have to beat the best players in the world but last year was a good year.
“I played regularly played in these tournaments, in the majors, in the Premier Padel P1s, and so I’m used to playing against those players and I beat players in the top 40 last year.
“I’m confident I have the level, but obviously you have to be on that level all year, and that is the most difficult thing.
“If I am going to achieve my target, then I need to get my best results in Premier Padel tournaments because you have so many points to play for, as well as the prize money. So this year is going to be all about Premier Padel with some FIP tournaments, where they fit in the schedule.”
Murphy confirmed he aims to play in FIP events scheduled to be held in the UK as well as represent GB in this year’s European and World Championships.
He and his partner have warmed up for their Premier Padel assault by competing at last month’s FIP Promotion event at La Cala in Benidorm and last week’s FIP Rise event in Chile, reaching the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
The Benidorm tournament, a short drive from Murphy’s Alicante base, was the first opportunity for him to test his fitness having undergone a meniscus operation in late November followed by a month of intensive training.
He added: “During December I trained four or five hours per day to be at the first day of pre-season as it’s the most important thing to do a complete pre-season. At La Cala it wasn’t about the overall result but to feel 100% and do a good job.” 🎾
