LTA’s first pro padel event in Great Britain a major success as Tia Norton and Carla Fito Fernandez win big

Great Britain’s No 1 padel player Tia Norton delivered big at the LTA’s first professional padel event in the UK, the London Padel Open, as she won the women’s title alongside Carla Fito Fernandez while Bram Meijer and Sten Richters won the men’s final.
Norton and Fito Fernandez were seeded second for the first-ever tournament at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre and they held off fourth seeds Wendy Barsotti and Elodie Invernon 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final in two hours to book their spot in the showpiece event.
Up against top seeds Maaike Betz and Natalia Sanz Garcia in the final, the British-Spanish combination proved too strong as they won 7-5, 6-1 in just one hour.
“To come away with a win from this tournament is absolutely incredible,” Norton said. “We played a really good tournament and were really happy overall how we competed. We came into the tournament with no expectations, every tournament we go match by match and here we are with a win at the end of it.
“The venue itself is absolutely incredible. The LTA have held such an incredible event, so I want to thank them for putting on such a great organisation, and of course to come away with a win at such a professional event, the first professional event in the UK. It’s always nice winning on home turf but this one feels a little bit special.”
Exclusive: Tia Norton’s big dream and her mission to spread the padel message
The unseeded Meijer and Richters 6-2, 6-3 were the surprise winners on the men’s side as they first beat British No 1 Christian Medina Murphy and partner Javier Navarro Perez in the last four before upsetting fifth seeds Bastien Blanque and Jose Jiminez Casas 7-6, 6-3 in the final.
The London Padel Open was part of the Cupra FIP (International Padel Federation) Tour and the tournament was launched as the LTA look to capitalise in the rise of the sport of padel – a cross between tennis and squash – over the past few years with more than 89,000 active padel players and 200 courts across the country.
Tom Murray, Head of Padel at the LTA, said: “I’m incredibly proud of Tia’s win. I never doubted her and had a feeling she might pull this one off.
“It’s unfortunate that both Hansie Ruddick and then Christian Medina Murphy in the men’s both lost in their respective semi-finals matches because it would’ve been fantastic to have more Brits in the finals.
“The overall feedback from the players has been second to none and are congratulating us on a great event and asking when our next tournament is so they can fit it into their calendars.”
Latest
-
Tennis News
Brisbane International sports ‘best-ever’ field with nine Grand Slam winners headed to Queensland in January
The Brisbane International in 2024 will include nine Grand Slam champions.
-
Tennis News
Maria Sharapova issues stark social media warning
Maria Sharapova recently discussed the stress imposed on today’s society by social media.
-
WTA Tour
Historic clay-swing tournament already drawing big names with Jessica Pegula and Ons Jabeur entered
Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula have signed up for the Charleston Open.
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek’s 2024 tennis schedule: Where will the world No 1 begin her new season?
Which tournaments are likely to feature on Iga Swiatek’s 2024 tennis schedule?
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic takes protégé Hamad Medjedovic under his wing again in another act of kindness
Hamad Medjedovic to join Novak Djokovic in Dubai.
-
Tennis News
Who are Rafael Nadal’s sponsors? Nike show they are still behind the Raging Bull for his comeback campaign with $10 million backing
Find out who backs the Raging Bull, Rafael Nadal.
-
Tennis News
Ben Shelton thrives on personal attention from Roger Federer’s On Sports
Who backs rising star Ben Shelton?
-
Tennis News
Tennis legend Chris Evert gives heartbreaking health update – ‘This is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear’
Chris Evert has started another round of chemotherapy.
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer shares his wishes for great rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
“I can only say the best things about them,” says Roger Federer.
-
Australian Open
The Nick Kyrgios show rolls on: From ‘heartbreaking’ news to ‘special things’
Nick Kyrgios has confirmed “heartbreaking” Australian Open news, but all is not lost.