This weekend’s Game4Padel Tour LTA Regional Championship has a competitor whose entry means a lucky break.
Essex’s Ethan Baldo (pictured left, with England international Nikhil Mosindra) suffered a horrific accident earlier this year when his foot was trying to retract a smashing backboard When caught in the net, he landed wrist level and was sucked into the vortex. pain of. However, England’s 18th-ranked cricket ace had one saving grace – the subsequent fracture occurred in his non-playing left wrist.
Now, this weekend’s LTA tier 3 event at Edinburgh Park will represent Ethan’s first return to competitive action, confirming what his heartbreak at Harrogate has proved to be a fortunate break for him.
Ethan shared: “I was in Harrogate in February for the first year quarter-final, Toby Bowden against Louie Harris and Sam Jones and this happened at the end of the first set. situation.
“Basically, Louie hits the ball and I run to the net to try and do it, but the angle is so small that when I jump up, my leg goes under the net and my foot gets caught on the net rope and I fall. The net landed on my left wrist.
“John Leach (Great Britain men’s national team coach) captured it all on film, which I think had about 5000 views on Tik Toc and Insta, so he was really nice! Though looking back now It was kind of funny, but at the time it was heart-wrenching.It was also the first time my girlfriend Abbie came to see me, and she saw it all, so it was awesome- no!
“Then I went back to the hotel and I was in shock, really cold and tired and then I fell asleep, but the next day I went straight to the emergency room and luckily I got checked within 45 minutes , and was diagnosed with a major fracture and a major fracture.” A short break followed by a six-week recovery process.
“I had a small cast but thankfully I’m fully recovered after four weeks and from that perspective this weekend’s G3 at Edinburgh Park is the perfect way to get back into action while also enjoying the some fun.
“I haven’t played any Group 1 or Group 2 races since the accident, so Edinburgh is the perfect way to get back into Group 3 and then the plan is to play Guernsey in a couple of weeks.”
But the trip to the Scottish capital has another appeal for the Prested Tennis Club padel ace, with Ethan adding: “I have a few friends in Edinburgh and I’m just looking forward to meeting them at the weekend.
My partner Tim (Wise) is a really good friend who plays for my club and I coach him too, so it will be fun. Also, I’ve never played in Edinburgh before, but from what I can tell, it’s a beautiful city and it’s a great opportunity to do some sightseeing around it. “
Ethan, who is ranked 15th in the UK rankings, and padel pal Thiem will face the all-Spanish duo of Luis Alejandro Delacaba Medina and Antonio Fernandez in Sunday’s opening round. LeBreze Martin morning.
The Essex dark horse duo of Bardot and Wise are also in the same draw with second seeds David Holmes and Sammy McKinney in the bottom half of the draw, while third-year top seed Stewart Alexander and Mathias Kupic take on Kevin Brocklehurst and Chris McCallum.
But while this may be the first step in his competitive recovery, Ethan admits he has a long-term goal: “It was tough, especially when they told me six weeks later, my confidence took a hit, but now I’m back. Back in the game.” I had a really good training session with Jack Bewley at Maldon earlier this week and I’m delighted to be going and looking forward to Edinburgh.
“If I broke my right wrist (playing), it would be worse. Well, I’ve dropped to the bottom of the top 20, but a good performance on ‘EP’ this weekend might help me make a comeback , and brings me back to the top 10 I hope to be in by the end of the year.
“Playing for England is a huge ambition of mine and Edinburgh Park Hope is the first step towards making it happen, but first Tim and I are determined to bring it back to England!”
First seeds Fiona Livingston and Desni McIntosh will face Mary Rose Brennan and Lorna Nicholl and second seeds Iria Del Rio and Ashley Mears will face Elaine Easton and Christine Hobden in Saturday morning’s Women’s Division 3 event at Thistle Tennis and Padel .
Karen Crawford and Mary Kress will open their “EP” campaign in round two.
