The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has named Spanish padel icon Iciar Montes as its International Performance Coach for the GB women's team. Montes, a former world number one, will work alongside captain Libby Fletcher to enhance British padel development. This appointment follows the addition of Argentine coach Agustin Gomez Silingo to the men's program.
Iciar Montes, who held the world number one padel ranking for 12 years and secured nine world titles as a player, has been appointed LTA Padel International Performance Coach. Prior to this role, she served as head coach of Spain’s women’s national team, leading them to five world championships and three European titles. Montes also currently leads the FIP Beyond Tour, aimed at amateur-level players, seniors, juniors, former professionals, and legends.
Montes joins the LTA Padel performance team alongside Agustin Gomez Silingo, who was appointed as LTA Padel International Coach last May in preparation for the FIP Euro Padel Cup. Silingo, who achieved a career-high ranking of 21 as a player, will shift from the women’s to the GB men’s national team. In 2024, he transitioned to coaching elite players Juan Lebrón of Spain and Martín Di Nenno of Argentina.
Since 2023, Montes has collaborated with the LTA as a Content Developer for Padel Coach Education, working with the organization’s Coach and Official Education team. In her new position, she will support the GB women’s national padel team by contributing to preparation and activities, including team selection, travel to FIP-sanctioned international events, and on-court support. She will provide education, guidance, and strategic input to the LTA’s padel team and national coaches to meet international performance standards.
Additionally, Montes will assist in national training camps, talent identification initiatives, and offer performance guidance to selected pathway players. She will also support coaching courses, workshops, and clinics. Libby Fletcher remains captain of the GB women’s team, bolstered by Montes’ experience, while John Leach takes the captaincy for the men’s team with Silingo’s support. Sandy Farquharson will assume a reduced role, focusing on strategic collaboration.
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel, stated: “From supporting team selection to competition preparation, Iciar’s influence will be felt across the entire programme. Working closely with Libby Fletcher and our wider coaching team, she will play a key role in ensuring our British squads are equipped to compete with confidence at the highest level. Her appointment alongside Silingo’s selection last May reinforces our commitment to creating a first-class performance team, whilst embedding world-class expertise within British padel for the long term, and we are excited about the journey ahead.”