Catherine Rose, Great Britain's number two padel player, is eager to face one of the sport's superpowers, Spain or Argentina, in the upcoming FIP World Cup Finals in Doha. The tournament, which begins on November 2, will feature the top 15 nations in women's padel, and Rose is looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best teams in the world.
FIP World Cup Finals Preview
The competition will be split into four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals, and the bottom two playing for 9th-16th position. The group stage draw is seeded, meaning that Great Britain will definitely face one of the top four teams, including nine-time winners Spain, eight-time champions Argentina, last year's bronze medallists Italy, or fourth seeds Portugal. Rose expressed her desire to play against Spain or Argentina, stating that it would be a great experience to play against top-five players in the world.
The Great Britain women's squad secured their place in the FIP World Cup Finals by winning all three of their matches in the European qualifying event in Madrid, with Rose and her partner Aimee Gibson dropping just three games in three matches. The squad will be led by captain Libby Fletcher and coached by Iciar Montes, and will feature a mix of experienced players, including Tia Norton, who has recovered from an Achilles injury, and young debutantes like 16-year-old Chloe de la Mare, who impressed in the European qualifier with her amazing padel skills and huge potential.
The GB women's squad for the 2026 FIP World Cup Finals includes:
- Aimee Gibson (91) - experienced player and Rose's partner
- Catherine Rose (93) - Great Britain's number two player
- Tia Norton (171) - most experienced player in the squad and only team member to have played in a Padel World Championship before
- Lisa Phillips (186) - part of the squad that secured qualification in Madrid
- Laura Jackson (214) - adds depth to the squad
- Abigail Tordoff (218) - another experienced player in the squad
- Chloe De La Mare (268) - 16-year-old debutante who impressed in the European qualifier
- Victoria Nicholas (379) - part of the squad that won all three matches in Madrid
The FIP World Cup Finals will take place from November 2-7, with the group stage scheduled for November 2-4, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. The tournament will be streamed live on the FIP YouTube channel, with results, group standings, and order of play available on the FIP website and updates on The Padel Paper.
