HIGHLIGHTS- SILVER READING 31JAN26

Champagne pace. Steel nerves. From 10:00 sharp, PADELHUB Reading turned into a pressure-cooker with polish — a ROAD2LONDON SILVER (LTA G4) where every point felt like it had a soundtrack. Crisp volleys. Quiet confidence on the benches. A crowd leaning in as roars bounced off the glass.

The theme was brutally simple: hold your nerve or get moved. Seeds arrived to set the tone, challengers arrived to crash the party, and the scoreboard delivered early drama — from ruthless clean sweeps to tie-break squeakers that flipped the whole day in a heartbeat.

THE STORY OF THE DAY — FAST STARTS, TIGHT FINISHES

This one never settled. The morning matches came in waves, momentum changed hands in minutes, and the pressure only climbed as the qualification picture tightened. In a format built for tempo, the margins were razor-thin — one loose game, one late wobble, and suddenly it’s scramble mode.

In short: the favourites were tested, the outsiders swung hard, and the “safe” leads didn’t stay safe for long. Reading made everyone earn it.

NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Upset with sparkle: James Clemmow / Lian Meyer flip the script on Joel Oyedele / Zechariah Oyedele, 4–2, 4–3.
• The bounce-back bite: the top seeds dig deep and escape 3–4, 4–2, 10–7.
• Group B ignites: Ben Frais / Jack Haworth hit the gas, 4–2, 4–1.
• Upset alert: Frais/Haworth shut the door on Joshua Hodgins / Ethan Holt, 4–2, 4–0.
• Group H lockdown: Matthew Fretwell and partner silence Cristian Aldaz / Javier Nicolas Aldaz, 4–0, 4–1.
• Heartstopper of the session: Marcus Beauchamp / Nicholas Walters steal it 2–4, 4–2, 16–14.
• Group D control: Alex Crisp / Conor Keogh stamp authority with a clean 4–2, 4–0.
• Late-day thriller: Bradley Burnett-Smith / George Farrelly survive the swing, 4–1, 1–4, 10–8.

THE TURNING POINTS — WHEN THE DAY GOT SHARP

The early shock. Clemmow/Meyer didn’t just win — they made a statement. Fast hands, brave decisions, and a scoreboard that forced everyone to re-check their assumptions. No free passes.

The tie-break theatre. A 16–14 match tie-break is pure edge-of-seat chaos — one point feels like three, and the finish belongs to whoever keeps their head for one rally longer. Ice in the veins.

WHO CAUGHT FIRE

• Clemmow / Meyer — fearless under the lights, and perfectly timed disruption.
• Frais / Haworth — pace, intent, and a statement win that lit up the group.
• Beauchamp / Walters — clutch mode: the kind of finish that swings a whole tournament mood.
• Crisp / Keogh — controlled, efficient, and ruthless when it mattered.
• Burnett-Smith / Farrelly — the late-day survivalists: wobble, reset, win anyway.

KNOCKOUT AFTER DARK — ROUND OF 16 TO FINAL (FROM 14:30)

New phase. New pressure. Once the group stage door slammed shut, the knockout switched the venue into fight-night mode — fast sets, brutal margins, and zero sympathy. The qualifiers didn’t “participate”. They attacked. And the bracket didn’t reward reputation — it rewarded nerve.

KNOCKOUT NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Round of 16 — Tone-setter: Clemmow/Meyer hold firm and move past Ali/Kumar 4–2, 4–3. No nerves. Just points.
• Round of 16 — The squeeze: Beerensson/Williams edge Kilcawley/Moss McCrory 4–3, 4–2. Win the moments.
• Round of 16 — Fast damage: Crisp/Keogh shut the door on Liddamore/Michael 4–1, 4–0. Clinical. Cold. Clean.
• Quarter-finals — Survival mode: Calatayud/Fader flip it late vs Beauchamp/Walters 1–4, 4–1, 10–6. Pressure? Delicious.
• Quarter-finals — Breaker of the day: Beerensson/Williams escape Frais/Haworth 4–2, 1–4, 12–10. Ice. In. Veins.
• Semi-finals — Refuse to fade: Calatayud/Fader complete the comeback vs Fretwell/Williams 1–4, 4–3, 10–7. Steel under fire.
• Semi-finals — The statement win: Burnett-Smith/Farrelly outlast Beerensson/Williams 4–2, 4–3. Handled. No drama.
• Final — Championship seal: Burnett-Smith/Farrelly take the title vs Calatayud/Fader 4–0, 4–3. Finish like champs.

One bracket. One champion. Burnett-Smith / Farrelly. Cold finish.

KNOCKOUT TALKING POINTS

• Deciders owned the day: 10–6, 12–10, 10–7 — Reading demanded steel.
• Calatayud / Fader’s run: escape artists to finalists, powered by belief and timing.
• Burnett-Smith / Farrelly’s formula: win ugly, win clean, win anyway.
• Beerensson / Williams: a quarter-final edge-of-a-knife win — 12–10 in the breaker — then a semi-final dogfight.
• Clemmow / Meyer: early knockout authority — the kind that makes a venue go quiet for a second.

Pressure makes headlines.

ON AND OFF THE COURT

By mid-afternoon, PADELHUB Reading had that rare “stay for one more” pull. On court, it was win-or-go-home energy — the sharp clap of winners, the glass doing its job, the crowd reacting like they’re ringside. Off court, the atmosphere stayed premium without trying too hard: people swapping score predictions, quick coffees turning into longer conversations, and phones coming out for replays the second a breaker got spicy.

The best part? It felt effortless. You could dip in close for the big points, then reset between matches without losing the thread of the day. Music humming in the background, that hum of conversation, and the constant sense that something could flip at any moment. Tournament padel, but with a lifestyle edge — the kind of afternoon you build plans around, not just “pop into”. Proper day out.

THE PREMIUM EXPERIENCE

ROAD2LONDON is built for fans who want more than a scoreline. If you’re doing PADELHUB Reading properly, upgrade the way you watch: settle into [Courtside Seating Zone], grab a table at [Bistro / Bar], and keep a clear sightline from [Panoramic Viewing Area] where every momentum swing feels louder. Add the little wins that change the whole day — comfortable space between matches, a hosted welcome, easy access to food and drinks, and the best view when the bracket tightens.

It’s not about “fancy”. It’s about effortless: arrive, settle, and let the tournament come to you. Because when the breakers start flying and finals get tight, you’ll want the best seat in the building — and the best feeling in the room. Watch it like you mean it.

Credibility: ROAD2LONDON SILVER (LTA G4) is where UK padel gets loud, fast, and serious — and Reading delivered the full experience. If you missed it, don’t repeat the mistake. Plan your next stop, and if you want it premium, lock it in early. Limited. Polished. Unmissable.

NEXT UP

If you were in the building, you felt it. If you missed it, don’t repeat the mistake. ROAD2LONDON doesn’t wait — and neither do the brackets.

• Follow: @padel.london and @ROAD2.LONDON
• Plan your next stop: ROAD2LONDON SILVER at CORE PADEL (BIRMINGHAM) — entries and updates via the website
• Go premium: hospitality / best-view options (limited) — enquire via the website