The Australian Padel team are in Alicante, Spain for the Senior Padel Championships this week, with former world No.1 Pat Rafter a high profile inclusion in the men's team.
Australia received direct qualification into the International Padel Federation's tournament based on previous performance, with men and women across five different age categories - 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+ and 55+ - participating.
"We're thrilled to have so many talented players compete in the Senior World Padel Championships and represent Australia on the global stage," Tennis Australia Head of Game Expansion Callum Beale said.
"International representative tournaments such as this provide our leading Padel players a chance to compete against the best players from other countries and highlight the growing popularity and professionalism of Padel in Australia" he added.
The group stage of the championships commenced this week, with 16 national teams competing for a place in the quarter finals. The final matches will be played from 18-20 April.
The Australian men's team had a first-round bye and defeated Ireland 5-0 in the second round. They play Italy next for a spot in the quarterfinals. The women's team lost to USA and Germany.
| Australian Padel Teams | ||
| Category | Men | Women |
| 35-39 | Sam AshendenEmeric NavarroRoss Taylor | Alexia DalleyAna RendaAngela Dangond |
| 40-44 | Aitor AspiazuKirk JacksonMatt ThomasJake Benzil | Emily HareKatarina KotanMaria Fernanda Monje (Mafe) |
| 45-49 | Rob DaleyGareth KeatingNige Waugh | Kylie KowalczukVanesa GonzalezSilvia Gonzalez |
| 50-54 | Matt BarrellePat RafterJerome CardotJason Hill | Pep StonerRachel AshbyPenny Morrison |
| 55+ | Craig O'ShannessyMatt CrawcourScott RileyIvan Resnekov | Sakurako CunneenRuth BellCath Bellemore |
Senior Padel Championships
Date: 15-20 April, 2024
Location: La Nucía, Alicante, Spain
Pat Rafter was announced as the founding ambassador for Padel Australia, the governing body for one of the country's fastest growing sports, earlier this year.
Padel is played on an enclosed court with specifically designed paddles and balls. It is typically played as doubles and is easy to learn, making it a great option for social players. The rules are similar to tennis, except the walls are part of the game and players serve underhand.
For further information on Padel Australia visit the official website at padelaus.com.au
More information and results for the event in Alicante can be found here.