Padel duo confident they’ll compete for titles after reaching first final

British padel duo Hanna Maddock and Catherine Rose (right) are confident they can become serial title contenders after reaching their first FIP Rise final at the Australian Open in Sydney.

The two 24-year-olds, competing in the opening FIP tournament of the year, admitted nerves and not enough self-belief was their downfall as they lost the women’s final 6-3, 7-6 against the Spanish No 1 seeds Patricia Calderaro and Nerea Santana.

“We watched them play the day before the final and you could see they were really good,” said Rose, who trains at The Padel Hub in Slough.

“However, because of that, we went into the final with not enough self-belief and thinking that they were more superior to us. When we started to play them, we realised we could compete with them but we just didn’t have enough to win.

“We know if we play them again, which there is a chance we could do in Melbourne this week, that we have the ability to beat them.”

Despite the defeat, it has been a very rewarding event in terms of the experience as well securing 15 valuable FIP ranking points and prize money of $800AUS each.

Their route to the final saw them save two match points in their 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 opening round victory over Matheva Polo Cacncio (SPA) and partner Pascalle Thenoux (CHI) to reach the quarter finals.

The last eight contest was more straightforward with a 6-2, 6-2 straight sets victory over Alexia Lopez (SPA) and Jemma Peterswald (AUS), before they overcame Australian second seeds Alexia Dalley and Sarah Morante 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-final.

“This has just been one of the best weeks of my life,” said Rose, who combines competing on the international circuit with her teaching career at Thomas’s school in Battersea.

“Coming to Australia and reaching your first FIP final, it is going to be quite hard to top that.”