The University of Nottingham’s padel team has made history by winning the inaugural UK Universities Championships. The event, held from January 1st to 2nd, 2025, at Rocket Padel in Bristol, saw 143 athletes from 37 teams compete. Nottingham’s first team, consisting of Mateo Padovani, Thomas Sheldon, Luca Fielden, and Tom Pattullo, emerged as champions in a super tiebreak.
The team moved swiftly through the early rounds, securing a spot in the semifinals. They then faced Nottingham Trent University, where Mateo Padovani and Thomas Sheldon delivered a commanding performance, winning their match 11-4. Luca Fielden and Tom Pattullo dominated their match, winning 12-1. With both pairs’ victories, the University of Nottingham secured a place in the final against a strong Exeter team.
The final proved to be a suspenseful showdown, with both pairs from Nottingham and Exeter splitting their individual matches. This led to a tense super tiebreaker to decide the ultimate winner. Mateo Padovani and Luca Fielden emerged victorious, clinching the championship title for Nottingham. UoN Padel Team Captain Luca Fielden expressed immense pride in the team’s character and performance.
Nottingham’s second team, featuring Jacob Womersley, Aiden Wharton, Jos Schellekens, and Daniel Stoller, also performed admirably. They reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by Bristol 1s. Despite the loss, their strong performance showcased the depth of talent and passion for padel at the University of Nottingham.
Following the tournament, Nick Baker, CEO and founder of UK Padel, commented on plans for expansion. He expressed hope that the event would have a lasting legacy on the impact of padel in the UK. Working with the LTA and BUCS to get padel recognized under BUCS would be hugely beneficial to the sport, leading to more funding and opportunities for students to compete.
