British padel star Victoria Nicholas is having a career-defining moment. From her FIP Rise Manila title to her growing presence on the international padel circuit, Nicholas has proven herself as one of the leading figures in British padel. However, as she continues to push boundaries on the court, she’s also about to embark on an exciting new journey off it—becoming a mother.

In an exclusive interview with The Padel Weekly, Nicholas reflects on her fast rise in padel, the challenges of balancing her career as an NHS doctor with elite-level competition, and what’s next as she prepares to step away from competition temporarily for motherhood.

From Tennis to Padel: A Fast-Rising Star

Victoria Nicholas’ journey into padel started like many others—through a chance invitation from a friend.

“I used to play tennis, and one of my friends said, ‘I found this new sport. You should come play,’” Nicholas recalls. “I just played socially at first with my now-husband and a few friends, and I absolutely loved it.”

She quickly transitioned from casual games to competitive play, entering local tournaments, progressing through British Padel rankings, and ultimately earning a place on the Great Britain squad.

“I never imagined I’d represent my country in anything,” Nicholas admits. “But last year, in July, I played for Great Britain in the European Championships in Sardinia. It was an incredible experience, and seeing how much British padel—especially on the women’s side—has grown in the past few years is amazing.”

That growth is evident in the rankings. “A few years ago, we had just one player competing professionally,” she explains. “Now, we have five players ranked in the FIP Top 200, and we’re pushing forward.”

Winning in Manila: A Tough Yet Rewarding Experience

One of Victoria Nicholas’ standout moments came in November 2024, when she and Aimee Gibson won FIP Rise Manila, marking her first international tournament victory.

“The first thing I noticed in Manila was how friendly and welcoming everyone was,” Nicholas says. “The second was the heat and humidity—it was intense!”

Battling jet lag and tough conditions, Nicholas and Gibson managed to adapt and dominate.

“We didn’t have much time to explore since we were either on the court, preparing for matches, or trying to sleep. But the club was fantastic, and the atmosphere was amazing. The local fans were so supportive, and winning the tournament was an incredible feeling.”

Challenges and Lessons from Competing Internationally

Playing on the FIP tour has been a major step up from domestic tournaments.

“You’re up against players who have played padel their whole lives,” Nicholas explains. “At first, it was about building confidence—believing I could compete at this level. But as you play more, you gain experience and start having amazing matches in places you never imagined visiting.”

Her travels have taken her from Spain to Egypt, Doha to Riyadh, and beyond. However, the financial and logistical challenges are real.

“Traveling for tournaments is tough—flights, hotels, and expenses all add up,” she says. “You can get a bad draw and be out in the first round, which can be frustrating. But you have to be in it to win it.”

Partnerships, Teamwork, and Finding the Right Doubles Fit

Victoria Nicholas has built strong partnerships on the court, particularly with Aimee Gibson.

“Often, you don’t know if you’ll gel with a partner until you play a tournament together,” she says. “What matters is communication, effort, and having each other’s backs. A great partner will support you even if you’re having a bad day, and that’s key.”

Her off-court partnerships are equally important. Recently, Soul Padel named her as an ambassador, a move she says is crucial for making padel more accessible for women.

“Padel in the UK, especially in London, is expensive,” she notes. “Soul Padel is doing an incredible job making the sport more affordable and getting more women involved. Sponsorship is essential for me—it helps with travel and allows me to compete at a high level.”

Balancing Medicine and Padel: A Unique Challenge

While competing at a world-class level, Nicholas is also a gastroenterologist-in-training, a balancing act that presents its own challenges.

“It’s tough feeling like I’m not giving 100% to either my medical career or padel,” she admits. “Most professional players train twice a day and can rest in between, but I’m at work all day before heading to training.”

Despite this, she remains grateful for the opportunity to pursue both passions.

“There are people who would love to be a doctor and people who would love to play padel professionally. I get to do both, and I try to make the most of every day.”

The Future of Women’s Padel: What Needs to Change?

As women’s padel continues to grow, Nicholas wants to see more investment and accessibility.

“Increasing prize money, media coverage, and visibility is key,” she says. “Right now, there are more men playing professionally, which is why they get more prize money. But if we want more women in the sport, we need to create equal opportunities.”

She also highlights the role of social and cultural factors in keeping women engaged in sports.

“Men often play sports with their friends and make it part of their social lives—women don’t do that as much,” she explains. “We need to make padel more accessible and welcoming for women, especially when they become mothers.”

Major Update: Announcing Her Pregnancy

As Nicholas continues to push boundaries, she’s also preparing for an exciting personal milestone—becoming a mother.

“It’s great to finally share the exciting news that Max and I will be welcoming a baby into our family this summer,” she announced.

Currently ranked #5 in Great Britain and #172 in the world, Nicholas competed in her final tournament this weekend at the Adidas Hop tournament in Leeds, partnering with Abigail Tordoff. However, she plans to return to competition before the end of the year.

“I’ll miss competing in the sport I love over the next few months, but I’m looking forward to this next chapter,” she says.

Nicholas is the first high-profile GB padel player to pause her career to start a family, but her ambitions in the sport remain as strong as ever.

“I want to continue playing for Great Britain as long as possible and keep getting better. And most importantly, I want to keep enjoying padel.”

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

With 2025 in full swing, Nicholas is keeping her goals flexible.

“This year is different—I’m in the final stage of my medical training, so I have to be selective with tournaments,” she explains. “I don’t have a specific ranking target; I just want to play as much as I can and enjoy it.”

For young players looking to follow in her footsteps, she has simple advice:

“Put yourself out there, join local groups, get coaching early, and most importantly—have fun.”

With an exciting career ahead—on and off the court—Victoria Nicholas is proving that she’s not just a rising star in British padel, but an inspiration for the next generation of players.

Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews and the latest updates in the world of padel— keep it here on The Padel Weekly!