GB teams out early at FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup
On their debut at the FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup in Porto, both British teams have been eliminated in the qualification phase without reaching the Final 8 stage. Great Britain's boys' and girls' squads bowed out after tight and at times dramatic ties in a tournament that brings together Europe's best junior national teams in Portugal. Despite brave performances, neither roster advanced to the next phase of the continental competition.
The appearance in Porto carried special significance for the British teams. For the first time since the competition was launched, British boys' and girls' sides took part in this prestigious event. Qualification from 27 to 29 June decided which nations would join the pre-seeded favourites in the Final 8. Great Britain had to hold its own in a high-class field and initially produced promising results.
Boys fall narrowly to Denmark
The British boys opened the tournament weekend with three victories. Wins over Estonia, Finland and Poland gave the team a solid position in Group D. On Monday morning, the decisive tie against Denmark would determine who topped the group and qualified for the Final 8.
The match developed into a fiercely contested nation tie across three age categories. In the U14 rubber, Tyler Coles Monfillo and Shay Hanif lost 6-2, 6-4 to Karl-Emil Angermair and Marius Damgaard Bojesen. Great Britain came under early pressure and had to fight back in the remaining ties.
The U16 pairing of Oliver Grantham and Harley Dixon produced the most gripping moment of Britain's tournament run. In a long, tense match, they agonisingly lost 7-5, 7-6 (3) to Denmark's Pelle Hansen and Lasse Leiholm. The outcome was decided only in the second-set tiebreak, leaving Britain just one step short of the hoped-for group victory.
In the dead U18 rubber, Ben Phillips and Cochise Bennett won convincingly 6-1, 6-2. That clear success could not offset the defeats in the two decisive matches. Denmark secured the group win and advanced to the Final 8, while Great Britain exited qualification despite a strong weekend.
Girls eliminated early after Belgium defeat
The British girls also ended their tournament in the qualification phase, although their fate was effectively sealed after the first match on Saturday. Great Britain were drawn into the only three-team group in the competition. In that format, an early defeat was enough to make topping the group impossible.
Against Belgium, Rosie Allen and Elizabeth Vellacott started promisingly in the U14 rubber with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Anna Wauters and Marie van Bruyssel. In the U16 match, however, Chloe de la Mare and Lucy Bertram lost 7-5, 6-4 to Nanou Vereertbrugghen and Hanne van Bruyssel. Belgium moved into a decisive position.
In the final U18 rubber, Rosie Quirk and Aimee Connolly could not overturn the deficit. They went down 6-3, 6-4 to Axelle Moens and Llum Martorell Gruwez. Belgium's 2-1 win meant Great Britain could no longer win the group and were effectively out of the Final 8 race.
On Sunday, a commanding 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic followed, with Britain conceding only four games across the three ties. While valuable in sporting terms, it no longer mattered for qualification. Both British teams finished second in their groups.
Final 8 field confirmed
In the boys' competition, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark advance to the Final 8 as group winners. They join automatic qualifiers Spain, France, Sweden and Belgium. In the girls' event, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland secured top spots in their groups and will meet Spain, Italy, Portugal and France.
The tournament format underlines the team-oriented nature of the FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup. Each nation tie consists of three rubbers in the U14, U16 and U18 age categories. Success therefore depends not on a single doubles pairing but on the depth and consistency of the entire squad. For Great Britain, the Porto campaign delivered valuable experience against established padel nations, even though the hoped-for Final 8 place did not materialise.
Results and outlook
All latest scores and group standings from the FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup are available on the official FIP website. Matches are also streamed live on the FIP YouTube channel. Reaction from the British camp in Porto is expected shortly after the joint debut of both teams.
For British youth padel, the Porto appearance marks an important milestone, even though both squads exited early. The narrow defeats against strong European opponents show that Great Britain is already competitive at this level and can continue to grow with further international tournament experience.
