TIA Norton won the Women’s Padel Player of the Year at the LTA Tennis Awards to cap an excellent year for the British number one.
Norton, from Leamington Spa, helped Las Vegas Smash win the inaugural Pro Padel League (PPL) last month.
And that came after Norton won the 2022 FIP Rise London Padel Open, the first international padel tournament to take place in Great Britain.
Norton said: “It was a very special moment, to have all my friends and family awards around made it even more special.
“Hopefully they can put on an even bigger and better event this year.
“It is amazing to see the two sports being recognised together and I want to send a huge congratulations to everyone else who won an award today.
“It is truly an honour, there were thousands of nominees and very few get to win an award so congratulations to everyone.
“They’re holding the same tournament here in the summer so hopefully I can do the same, come away with the victory.
“But over the next year, I just want to continue competing, continuing training and learning more about myself.
“I am extremely proud; it is not an award I take lightly because it is very competitive.
“There are a lot of women coming through in the padel world, obviously it is still quite a new sport in the UK, but it is an honour to receive the prize.”
The LTA Tennis Awards recognise the vital work of volunteers, coaches, officials, and players across Britain, with as many as 2,500 nominations received each year.
The ceremony was led by LTA President Sandi Procter and presented by Leon Smith OBE, with a number of high-profile guests in attendance, including Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
To find out more information about the LTA Tennis Awards or for information on how to play, coach, volunteer or officiate in tennis, head to https://www.lta.org.uk/
