Richardson and Ricketts see growth in partnership
Published:Monday | May 1, 2023 | 12:40 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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While the mixed doubles partnership of national players Sam Ricketts and Tahlia Richardson is still young, both have credited the progress that they have made both on and off the court to put themselves in a position where they believe they can...
While the mixed doubles partnership of national players Sam Ricketts and Tahlia Richardson is still young, both have credited the progress that they have made both on and off the court to put themselves in a position where they believe they can challenge the best.
The pair completed their run at the 26th Yonex Pan Am Individual Championships on Friday in the quarterfinal round, losing in straight sets to eventual champions Joshua Hurlburt-Yu and Rachel Honderich of Canada. The competition was played in Jamaica for the first time since 1991.
It is a partnership that is in its third year but has seen progress with success in 2021, winning bronze in a tournament in El Salvador and most recently in March, getting to the semi-finals at the 21st Torneo International de Badminton tournament in Cuba.
While it has not been without difficulty, Ricketts said that their performances have shown how much they have improved in the short time they have been playing together.
“We have been doing pretty well and just showing how much we have improved. I think the last time we were in Jamaica, we were just good. Now we are trying to challenge people and take them on and believe that we can win. And I think that is the main difference,” Ricketts said.
With Ricketts based in the United Kingdom and Richardson in Jamaica, getting playing time together has been at a premium. But what has been the real test of their journey was how much they had to learn from each other.
“I feel like we have gone through a lot so far, and we wanted to continue the partnership. We worked through so much it’s unbelievable. I remember a couple of games after we lose we would sit and talk go over point after point and we understand how each other worked. Now, all that hard work is really paying off where we understand how each other plays, and what cues, how to motivate each other,” Richardson said.
“When we first started out I think the intensity was a lot, and she was trying to catch up her speed. She was trying to get things in the balance. (But) I think learning to understand her as a person first before the intensity, before the belief and just respecting her wishes and just kind of getting to know her more (helped) and learning to just kind of accommodate,” Ricketts commented.
Ricketts’ playing style may have been a challenge initially, but Richardson says that it has been beneficial not only for her, but for the other players to recognise how much they still need to grow as players to close the gap. With the Pan American Games set for later this year as well as fighting for places in next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, Richardson hopes they can take the momentum throughout the rest of the season.
“I think the tournament in El Salvador in 2021, when we got bronze, was a turning point for us, and it was difficult for us to play together because he is based in the UK and I am based in Jamaica, but the fact that we were able to go to that tournament and medal really showed the potential that we have,” Richardson said. And then in Cuba when we got bronze again it really showed us the progress that we made. Not just the medal but how we were able to play on the court.”