Lisa Phillips & Abigail Tordoff win first FIP Tour title in Kuala Lumpur
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British padel duo Lisa Phillips and Abigail Tordoff reached a new milestone over the weekend after claiming their first international title at the FIP Bronze Kuala Lumpur.
Second seeds Phillips and Tordoff rounded off a breakthrough week in Malaysia with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory against No.1 ranked team Anastasia Ryzhova and Lucia Lopez.
The Britons clinched the title without dropping a set across the tournament, including several standout wins against top 100 ranked opponents.
The FIP Tour is the first stage of the professional padel circuit, with four different levels of events, bronze, silver, gold and platinum.
“I’m so happy to have won my first FIP title,” said Phillips. “I’ve worked incredibly hard over the recent months and have come close a few times, having battles with against the top 100 players, it feels amazing to finally get there.
“Last week in the FIP Silver in Bristol we lost a tough three-setter against a strong Danish pair, so to bounce back and win this title this week feels great.”
Speaking on their achievement, Tordoff added, “It is extra special to have done it with Lisa as we played our first ever padel competition together over three years ago now, and we make a perfect on-court team.
“I am incredibly excited for British Padel in GB at the moment, and the levels are continually improving, which I feel is a direct result of the greater focus and support that’s going into the sport directly from the LTA.”
They are now two of sixth British female players to have won a FIP-level event in the last two years – joining British No.1 Aimee Gibson, Catherine Rose, Tia Norton and Victioria Nicholas.
The result will give the duo a huge confidence boost ahead of the Euro Padel Cup from 7-13 July in Madrid, where they will join forces with the wider GB women’s team.
“I’m incredibly passionate about the power of sport, and I’m especially committed to encouraging more women and girls to get involved in the game,” Tordoff said on the impact behind the strong results in British women’s padel.
“The recent success of the women’s team is a testament to what’s possible, and I hope it serves as inspiration for others. I also want to show that age should never be a barrier — whether you’re starting young or later in life, with dedication and belief, it’s all possible.”
Meanwhile, British No.1 Christian Medina Murphy also made the semi-final in Kuala Lumpur with Spanish partner Alberto Garcia Jimenez before losing out to third seeds Julien Seurin and Albert Trillas Garcia 7-6, 6-1.
