"Camaraderie & culture can propel GB to success" - FIP Euro Padel Cup captains look ahead to Final 8
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Captains Libby Fletcher and Sandy Farquharson believe that team cohesion, camaraderie and culture can propel GB's men and women to success at the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8 in Cadiz.
The women's and men's teams are seeded fifth and seventh respectively as they head to the bullring at Linea de la Concepción, where the 'big four' — Spain, Italy, France and Portugal — join the fray with GB and their fellow qualifying nations.
The format for both men's and women's events is two groups of four, with the top two in each group going through to semi-finals and the bottom two heading straight home, with no play-offs for finishing positions as there was at last year's European Championships in Sardinia.
Farquharson, the LTA National Performance Coach and GB Men’s Captain, admits his side will be "massive underdogs" against the "formidable" top four seeds, but believes that the GB team's sense of togetherness could be vital when they face a fellow qualifier, which in the men's case will be either Netherlands, Sweden or Germany.
"Our team cohesion and chemistry is going to make a difference," said the skipper. "It might be something to do with this country's football traditions, but we always get a lot of vocal support, with songs, waving flags and making a lot of noise. It's such an important point.
"Team competitions are a very different environment, where even top players can start to feel added pressure, but conversely it can also give you a massive boost if you respond well to it.
"It reminds me a lot of college tennis, where the off-court energy that your team and supporters give can make a big difference. That support was so important in Madrid [in the last round] and it will be crucial at this next stage."
I think that match made them believe that we belong at this level. We've proved this year that we're a force to be reckoned with.
Nowhere was the power of that vocal support more evident than during GB women's victory against Sweden at July's FIP Euro Padel Cup qualifier in Madrid, where our legion of supporters roared Catherine Rose and Lisa Phillips to the clinching win in the deciding third tie.
"That win has given the girls so much confidence," said Fletcher, the LTA Performance Pathway Manager and GB Women's Captain. "We really gelled as a team, that was the big difference, and the support from outside of the court pushed us through.
"We've had some tough years as a team, but I think that match made them believe that we belong at this level. We've proved this year that we're a force to be reckoned with and we're well capable of beating nations such as the Netherlands and Germany, who we could come up against in the Final 8."
Both captains highlight weekly GB team training sessions at the National Tennis Centre as critical for team bonding and fostering relationships between pairings. "In my 10 years playing for GB, we almost never came together throughout the year, we'd just turn up at the event," said Farquharson. "It's really great to have the opportunity to build cohesion these days."
Fletcher also noted the all-year-round support she's able to offer team members in her LTA role, not only in-person coaching but remote advice and support as the players travel the world on the FIP Tour.
To get through to a semi-final would be a lofty, lofty goal. It would be great if we're able to do that.
"I've tried to create a culture of support that they feel wherever they are," Fletcher said. "I watch their matches on YouTube, I'm always on the end of the phone, and when they're back home we can get some good training done here. It's having that contact all the time, so you're managing but not micro-managing and they know they can ask if they need anything."
Both captains will get a good look at pairings in action at this weekend's FIP Silver at Stratford Padel Club, before gathering the squad together at the NTC then flying to Cadiz on Saturday 18 October for a few days' training and acclimatisation before the Final 8 starts on 21 October.
The draw will take place the night before play begins and both GB teams are guaranteed to face two of the 'big four' in their groups.
"Qualifying in Madrid was a positive experience but we're now facing a different calibre of opponent," admitted Farquharson. "To get through to a semi-final would be a lofty, lofty goal. It would be great if we're able to do that."
GB's women will also face very tough tests against two of the top four, but they have realistic hopes of victory against either Netherlands, Germany or Belgium in the group stage.
"I feel confident those matches are winnable for this team we've got," reflected Fletcher. "To qualify in Madrid was a huge milestone for us, but I think we now have the confidence to win against some of the other teams that qualified alongside us. We're looking forward to bonding again and building that belief between us."
