We arrived a few days early to train as a team and get to know one another off the court. Training was tough, with four players in each age group competing for two spots, so there was plenty of motivation to perform and impress the selectors. It was the start of a week playing under pressure.

Training went well, and I was pleased with my level. I wanted to show that I could be both a strong player and a supportive teammate. Although I was desperate to play, I promised myself I’d back the team no matter what.

On the Sunday after we arrived, we attended the opening ceremony, where we paraded with our teammates and found out our group draw – Italy and the Czech Republic. We knew Italy would be tough, so we targeted the Czech match as a must-win.

After more training, the first team announcement came for that crucial match against the Czechs, which would largely determine our success. I was selected to play on the right side with Andy Brigham – a tall, athletic player with a huge smash – and I was really pleased with that pairing although I had been playing most of my padel on the left of late.

We watched the Czech team the day before and felt confident, though aware that being favourites can bring its own pressure. When match time arrived, the atmosphere was different to most padel I’ve played, and it took time to settle. I tried to manage the nerves by getting fired up, but this may have been detrimental. I didn't feel too nervous, but was eager to show my passion, which occasionally may have hindered me as I think I perform best when I am calm and relaxed – easier said than done.

We took the first set 6–3, but the second was a battle. We had chances to break, but they kept holding on. At one point, I hit a lob that forced an error, and we thought we’d finally broken on golden deuce – only for a roof panel to fall mid-point, forcing an unlikely replay. We lost that game and ended up in a tiebreak, 5–3 down, before changing tactics and scraping through to take the match. The relief was huge, and it felt great to get GB’s first win on the board.

Next came the Italians. One of their players was ranked around 200 in the world, and the other top 10 in Italy. We played them twice in the same day – first in the open pairs (losing 6–4, 6–3), then in the team event where they lifted their level and intensity even more, beating us 6–2, 6–2. Despite the losses, I was pleased with how I played and felt comfortable on the court, they were just too good.

I sat out the next few days as we played Estonia and the Netherlands, then returned for the final match against Norway. The tie was 2–2, and we were last on against a strong 35s pair. Unfortunately, we lacked clarity tactically during the match and although we gave it everything, we needed to be more cerebral and execute a simpler game plan. I felt like I couldn’t influence the match the way I wanted to, with the game being played a lot on the opposite cross court. 

I learned so much from the experience. Playing under that kind of pressure helped me understand the player I am and the one I want to become. I need to strike the balance between intensity and passion, but also still be able to be calm, present and tactically aware during the match.

Being away from my family for a full week was tough at times. There were moments sitting in my hotel room watching Netflix where it all felt a bit self-indulgent, but I reminded myself it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience (hopefully not just once!). My wife was hugely supportive and quick to remind me to stop complaining about being in a nice hotel, doing what I love and getting some uninterrupted sleep!

Overall, it was a fantastic experience – both physically and mentally demanding, but one I’m very grateful for. And if I couldn’t bring home all the wins on court, I think it’s fair to say I performed admirably in the bars and restaurants afterwards!