2022: a year of padel history for France

Major tournaments in France, medals, media coverage, 2022 will forever remain a year that marked the padel French. The machine padel in France is launched and it will be difficult to stop. A look back at the top five moments of 2022.

Roland Garros: from padel on the Philippe Chatrier

For the first time, a tournament of padel took place at Roland-Garros. A competition in such a site is quite simply historic, and this did not leave the players indifferent.

"I don't think we can do better than Roland-Garros. When the tournament was confirmed, it was a great joy for us. THE padel is going to grow a lot economically, but such iconic places, there are no others,”, said the legendary Fernando Belasteguin.

From July 11 to 17, the Phillipe-Chatrier court was repainted in the colors of the padel for the Greenweez Paris Premier Padel Major 2022. The competition was able to attract 25 people in the aisles of the Porte d'Auteuil. The eyes of the world padel were then riveted on the French capital: a real sporting but also popular success.

After the success of the first edition, won by the Spanish pair Galan / Lebron, the elite of the discipline will be back on the Chatrier next September. The goal for Premier Padel is to do Greenweez Paris Premier Padel Major one of the unmissable events of padel international.

“With these new dates at the beginning of September, we want to make this major event in padel one of the key events of the new school year, allowing as many people as possible to come and admire a quality sporting spectacle, while enjoying the last fine days and long summer evenings in the superb setting of the Roland-Garros Stadium “, develops Arnaud Di Pasquale, director of the tournament.

The organization of this tournament will once again be an exceptional showcase for the little yellow ball. So, who will succeed the pair Ale Galan / Juan Lebron? ? Answer during the second edition which will take place from September 4 to 10.

Toulouse in the colors of World Padel Tour

For a week, the pink city was under the spotlight of the world of padel. For the first time, the world elite of the circuit World Padel Tour went to France (the WPT came to France for the first time in Cabriès in 2017). A high level set, show, exceptional matches, stifling heat, the first edition of the Human Padel Toulouse Open will be remembered. The organization of the tournament has counted nearly 12 spectators in the Palais des Sports André-Brouat, a real success.

Quite logically, the Human Padel Open will be back in Toulouse this year, as Robin Haziza explained: “ After the historic first edition of the Human Padel Open 2022, and on behalf of the whole team, we are honored to welcome the world's best players to Toulouse again in June 2023, for an exceptional show. The involvement and commitment of our partners help us immensely to make this event a unique popular celebration, which contributes to the democratization and development of the padel In France. »

June 12-18, 2023 therefore, the Palais des Sports André-Brouat will once again vibrate to the rhythm of bandeja et vibora. The matches will be broadcast by the encrypted channel Canal + (exclusive broadcaster), enabling media exposure in more than 150 countries. The second edition is eagerly awaited and still promises great surprises.

Successful FIPs in Occitania

The Occitanie region was able to benefit from the organization of two very fine FIP circuit tournaments. First with the FIP Rise in Canet-en-Roussillon, by the beach, last August, won by the Spanish pair Mercadal/Mouliaa, then then with the first FIP Gold in France, which took place in Perpignan. Show, memorable points in a warm atmosphere, all in a magnificent setting on the Place de la Catalunya, the first edition was magnificent. It's the pair Vilarino/Ramirez which has imposed itself in the Catalan city.

Recently, DNA Padel Event, the association that organized the two events, suggested thatthey would be back in 2023. Two weeks after the Human Padel Open 2023 in Toulouse, France will therefore host a new world-class tournament: the FIP Gold Perpignan from June 26 to July 2, 2023.

A historic bronze medal in Dubai

This is another historic event of this year 2022. For the first time, the French men's team won the bronze medal at the World Championships in padel (the girls had achieved the feat in 2012). Faced with the Portuguese surprise of the tournament, the tricolors did not tremble and brought home the medal. A memorable performance for our Blues, which comes to blur the 7^rd disappointing place of the female selection.

In the wake of the boys, other French teams continue to progress.

French teams that are gaining momentum

During the Senior + World Championships held in Las Vegas, the French team achieved interesting performances. Beaten at the gates of the final by Italy, the ladies still dropped out a beautiful bronze medal against Sweden. The French men's team finishes at the foot of the podium after a very tight match against the Swedes. A defeat with a bitter taste for the tricolor but still encouraging.

In Valence for the European championships, the French junior teams return without medals around their necks but with stars in their eyes. Defeated by Italy in the bronze medal game, the French finish these 2022 Junior European Championships in fourth place. The boys, meanwhile, end fifths.

The results of our teams in France are promising and position France as one of the systematically contending teams, behind the ogres that are Argentina and Spain.

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval football, round ball but also racket sports, he was stung by the padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a fan of the little yellow ball.