Great Britain’s quest to get a male player into the top 100 of the FIP world rankings remains unfulfilled. But if his current trajectory continues, the man to end the wait might be Ben Phillips.
Ben sits atop the LTA’s U18 boys’ padel rankings and captained the GB squad that took part in the FIP Junior World Cup in Reus in September.
Only weeks after turning 17, he has just won back-to-back Grade 2 titles on the LTA Padel National circuit, beating several pairings from the LTA men’s top 10 along the way.
There remains a long distance to travel between the British domestic scene and the top echelons of the world rankings, of course, but the likeable, down-to-earth teenager from Nottingham seems to have the attributes to leap that chasm.
Like many of GB’s top padel talents, Ben is an ex-tennis player. He was in the national top 20 aged 14, but started to “fall out of love with the sport.” Then, while studying for his GCSEs at Trent College, he met Hayden Kalinins (now ranked LTA no.5 at U18), who told him to try padel.
“I always had my best tennis results in doubles and enjoyed it more as a format,” Ben tells The Padel Paper. “I liked volleying, hand battles, fast-paced tennis and playing with a partner. So discovering padel, it was a no-brainer for me. I picked it up really easily. Being good at something straight away makes you enjoy it more!”
Soon, We Are Padel Derby became Ben’s second home. Recognising his potential, the coaches there even offered him free court time to train. “I grew into the player I am now because of We Are Padel,” he says. “Massive credit to them, particularly Enrique Beneytez Martinez, for the support they gave me.”
Quitting tennis completely in November last year to devote himself fully to padel, Ben started visiting Javi Serrats at Surge in Harrogate for further coaching. Meanwhile, he ramped up his matchplay experience by making his debut on the FIP circuit last April whilst simultaneously completing his GCSEs (mostly studying online).
He has now competed in seven FIP tournaments at Bronze and Silver level in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, racking up 28 points.
Being chosen as captain of the GB junior team at September’s FIP Junior World Cup (despite being the youngest player in the U18 age category) was, he says, “the best experience of my life.”
“It was the best feeling to represent my country. It was an absolute pleasure. To see players from countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, as well as the big ones, Spain, France, Italy… it was unbelievable seeing the level and connecting with other teams.”
Losing narrowly to the Netherlands in the qualifying semi-final was a tough experience. “We went toe-to-toe with them and lost by a set,” he reflected. “They’ve got 22 full-time staff working for their federation and we have two or three.
“The potential is there, we just need more investment into the junior programme. I really think GB juniors can make an impact on the world stage, competing with France, Italy, Spain in the next 20 years for sure.”
Stepping up to seniors…
Ben’s abundant promise was recognised by GB coaches Sandy Farquharson and John Leach inviting him to train with the senior squad before they travelled to Cadiz for the recent FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8.
“That was a huge, huge confidence booster,” said Ben. “It’s nice to see your hard work being recognised and taking the next step in my career.”
Ben’s plans to go to the Paquito Navarro Academy in Spain this September unfortunately fell through, so as of two weeks ago, he makes the daily journey from his parents’ house in Nottingham to The Padel Shed in Huddersfield, where he has joined the BPT Academy run by Fabian David with coaches Ainhoa Rico Martin and Josep Aymerich Bellmunt.
“Josep feels he can push me to get top 100 in the world, so that’s quite exciting,” said the 17-year-old. “Other than that, my goal is to get into the main draw in a Premier Padel match.”
In the next few weeks, he’ll compete in an LTA Grade 1 in Stratford and an upcoming FIP alongside GB senior player Jamie Lobo. There’s also December’s inaugural LTA National Padel Championships in Bristol, where Ben will play in both the U18s (with Cochise Inde Bennett) and men’s Open (probably with Lobo).
On his short-term goals, Ben reveals: “Obviously I want to become the junior national champion in December and break into the LTA top three [seniors] by the end of the year.”
Supported by a whole t-shirt full of sponsors (Raquex, Padel Shack, SH Active Sports, Home of Padel and Moko Physiotherapy), Ben has time, talent and determination on his side as he strives to achieve his dreams.
