Britain's top-ranked stars lift titles at the LTA Padel National Championships
• 4 minutes read
Great Britain's top-ranked padel players were crowned champions at the LTA Padel National Championships at Rocket Padel Bristol, with Aimee Gibson and Catherine Rose claiming the women's title, and Christian Medina Murphy and Alfonso Patacho winning the men's event.
The LTA Padel National Championships brought together the leading open and senior padel players, who competed for various titles, a £10,400 total prize fund, and valuable LTA ranking points.
Top seeds and British No.1 and No.2, Gibson and Rose, delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament, dropping just two games across their three matches en route to the final.
Awaiting them were the third-seeded pairing of fellow Great Britain teammates 16-year-old Chloe De La Mare and Victoria Nicholas. However, Gibson and Rose proved too strong, producing an impressive display to secure a 6-2, 6-0 victory and successfully defend their LTA Padel National Championships title.
Reflecting on the win, the top 100 FIP-ranked players, Gibson and Rose said, “We are super happy and proud to win the LTA Padel National Championships for the second consecutive year. It was great to return to Rocket Padel Bristol, thank you to everyone who helped put on the event and who came out to support.
"We’d also like to thank the LTA for their continued support, not only through this tournament but throughout the year. The support and backing we receive from the LTA, as well as our sponsors, play a vital role in helping us travel, compete internationally, and continue developing our game, and we’re extremely grateful for that support.
"We look forward to building on our win and competing with the rest of the women’s team at the FIP World Cup in Qatar later this month.”
The men’s final produced an exciting contest between the tournament’s top seeds and reigning champions, Louie Harris and Alex Loughlan, and the second-seeded pairing of Great Britain No.1 Medina Murphy and Patacho.
In a high-quality match that showcased the very best of British padel, the two teams battled for two hours and 33 minutes in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Rocket Padel Bristol. After narrowly dropping the opening set in a tie-break, Medina Murphy and Patacho showed remarkable resilience to fight back and secure a hard-fought 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory, claiming their first LTA Padel National Championships title together.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be crowned LTA Padel National Champions for the first time," said Medina Murphy and Patacho. "This title means a huge amount to us, particularly after the disappointment of last week’s FIP World Cup Qualifiers, and to achieve it together makes it even more special.
"We’d like to thank the LTA, Rocket Padel Bristol, our sponsors, and everyone involved in delivering such a fantastic tournament. Congratulations as well to Louie and Alex, who have had an outstanding year and put together another excellent tournament this week.
"We’re incredibly proud to have lifted the trophy and are already looking forward to returning to defend our title in 2027.”
LTA Padel National Championships 2026 winners
| Event | Winners | Runners-up |
| Women's Open | Aimee Gibson & Catherine Rose | Chloe De La Mare & Victoria Nicholas |
| Men's Open | Christian Medina Murphy & Alfonso Patacho | Louie Harris & Alex Loughlan |
| 50s Women | Julie Hanger & Stephanie Trill | Vik Sanderson & Jane White |
| 50s Men | Kinglsey Harris & Peter Wright | Paul Johnson & Neil Simmonds |
| 60s Women | Nicky Horn & Ashley Mears | Christine Baldwin & Carol Collinson |
| 60s Men | John Byrne & Colin McGill | Keith Gilbert & Michael Thorpe |
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel, reflected on the success of the 2026 LTA Padel National Championships saying, “It’s been another fantastic four days at Rocket Padel Bristol for the second edition of the LTA Padel National Championships. As the pinnacle events on the LTA Padel Performance Competitions Calendar, this year’s Championships brought together almost 300 players across eight categories, showcasing the very best of British padel.
"The standard of competition throughout the week has been exceptional and reflects the continued growth and ambition of the sport across Britain. It has been particularly encouraging to see so many talented players, including members of our Great Britain teams, inspiring the next generation and demonstrating the strength of our performance pathway.
"Events like these play a vital role in developing padel, and we are excited to build on this momentum as we continue to grow the game and support players at every level.
"A huge thank you to all the players, officials, volunteers, partners, spectators and the LTA tournament team whose dedication and enthusiasm made this year’s Championships such a success. We now look forward to the inaugural LTA Junior Padel Nationals later this month in Derby.”
LTA National Performance Pathway Manager, Libby Fletcher said, “I couldn’t be prouder of all the players for the performances they have delivered over the past four days. The standard of competition across all eight categories has been exceptional, highlighting the strength, depth and continued growth of padel in Britain. It was fantastic to see so many players competing for the coveted title of LTA Padel National Champion and the pride that comes with lifting the title.
"As we enter the second year of the tournament, it’s incredibly encouraging to see how the event has developed and how important it has become within the LTA Padel Performance Competitions Calendar. The championships are a reflection of the progress being made across the sport, from our leading British players to the talented young athletes coming through the pathway.
"It was brilliant to see players as young as 15 compete against some of our top GB players. Experiences like that are invaluable, and having those athletes as role models can make a real difference in inspiring the next generation of players. The LTA remain committed to building on the success of this event year after year, creating an even bigger platform for British players to showcase their talent."
The LTA Junior Padel Nationals will be taking place at Just Padel, Derby, from 29-30 October.
