6 padel courts within 000 years: Gilles Moretton's bet if he is re-elected as head of the FFT

On the eve of the elections to the French Tennis Federation (FFT), Gilles Moretton, Outgoing President of the FFT and candidate for his own succession, looks back on his record, his ambitions for the next four years and his vision for the development of the paddle in France. He also responds to his detractors, while reaffirming his desire to advance all federal disciplines.

A clear answer to his opponent

Your opponent, Germain Roesch, in this campaign was your vice-president. What is your reaction?
I will answer directly. Yes, I was surprised by his candidacy. This opponent was elected thanks to us and sat for three and a half years in the Executive Committee (COMEX). Out of 776 measures voted on, he approved 774 of them, abstained on two, and never made any criticism, remark or proposal. As Vice-President in charge of the corporate social responsibility (CSR), he did not attend a single meeting with the relevant departments. This is not a serious attitude. One can be a force for proposals or in constructive opposition, but this is not the case here.

The development of padel: a major axis

How do you assess the progress made by padel since your arrival?
When I arrived four years ago, padel was almost non-existent in the federation. The players felt neglected, and some even wanted to leave the FFT. Padel was literally “put away in a drawer”. With the help of Arnaud Di Pasquale, Éric Largeron and Stéphane Berrafato, we changed the situation. We met key players such as the World Padel Tour,APT Padel Tour (now the A1Padel), and private operators, to better understand the issues and lay the foundations for a federal strategy.

What concrete actions have been taken?
We have implemented several initiatives: Increased financial support, with an increase in aid to FFT clubs from 20 to 33 million euros over the previous mandate. This figure will reach 60 million in the next mandate, for the development of tennis and padel infrastructures. The creation of a flagship event: the Greenweez Paris Major, organized at Roland-Garros, which marked the history of padel in France. The launch of a National Training Center (CNE) dedicated to padel in Vichy, with 12 courts (6 indoor and 6 outdoor), in collaboration with the CREPS and local authorities. The appointment of padel referents in leagues and territories to support local development.

Did the Vichy CNE project replace that of Paris?
Yes, the initial project on the island of Puteaux, which was to include indoor tennis courts and padel courts, was abandoned for budgetary reasons. In Paris, there was also talk of building two padel courts in Jean-Bouin, but this did not meet our long-term needs. The site of Vichy presented an ideal opportunity: a partnership with CREPS, modern medical and sports infrastructure, and significant financial support from local authorities. This project fits perfectly with our ambitions for a national padel center.

The FFT opens its first National Training Center Padel in Vichy in 2025

You often mention the complementarity between tennis and padel. Can you elaborate?
Tennis remains the backbone of our federation, but padel is a complementary discipline, just like Beach tennis, pickleball or paratennisThese practices enrich the clubs' offering and meet the expectations of practitioners.

You mentioned the importance of private actors in the development of padel. What is their role today?
Originally, the private structures have played a key role in the development of padel, and they remain essential. Many initiatives have been taken by private operators to build courts and popularize this sport. However, we have worked to strengthen cooperation between private and associative clubs, in particular by requiring that they be affiliated with the FFT to organize official competitions.

An ambitious plan for the next four years

What are the main focuses of your padel program?

Infrastructure development : We aim to install 6 tracks padel by the end of the mandate, focusing efforts on association clubs.
Padel schools : We want to create schools similar to those of tennis, to train young people and structure teaching in our clubs.
A geomarketing model : We will ensure that the tracks are carefully laid out to avoid imbalances, as was sometimes the case in the 80s with tennis.
The National Training Center (CNE) : In Vichy, this center will welcome the best young talents to offer them high-level support, like the tennis CNEs.
The sustainability of events : The Greenweez Paris Major remains a pillar. We will also support other tournaments in France, while avoiding a geographical concentration of events.

An international strategy and partnerships

What role did Roland-Garros play in structuring international padel?
The organization of Greenweez Paris Major at Roland Garros was a key moment. It strengthened our position with international players, such as Luigi Carraro, president of the International Tennis Federation Padel (FIP), and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) (and Premier Padel). Their role was decisive in clarifying the circuit, notably with the creation of Premier Padel, which now brings together the former competing circuits. (editor’s note: A1Padel is however independent)

The Major at Roland-Garros has not yet been officially confirmed by Premier Padel for the next few years. What can you say about this?
Our goal is clear: keep a major event at Roland-Garros. With 64 visitors in 000, we are well ahead of international padel tournaments. As long as the official calendar of Premier Padel will not be published, it is normal that there are negotiations. But we are doing everything to perpetuate this event in Paris.

Can Roland-Garros really lose its Major?

Relations with the private sector and community clubs

What about aid for private and association clubs?
The aid is available to all clubs affiliated with the FFT. Private clubs, which often have their own funding, are generally less demanding. On the other hand, associative clubs, often dependent on municipal subsidies, benefit from our support for their projects: construction or renovation of tracks, equipment, lighting, clubhouse, etc.

Do private clubs need to be affiliated to receive support?
Absolutely. Even private clubs must create an associative structure to organize official competitions and be eligible for federal aid.

A promising future for French padel

What are your quantified objectives?
We aim 6 tracks padel and a significant increase in licensees. Today, we have 70 padel licensees (editor’s note: We are talking here about competitors who have played in at least one approved padel tournament in the last 1 months), but with multi-racket licenses and non-competition players, the overall figure exceeds 500 practitionersThe challenge is to convert these players into licensees, with the support of private and associative clubs.

In conclusion, I am proud of the progress we have made. Padel has found its place within the FFT, with major events, modern infrastructure and a growing community. We still have a lot of work to do, but the foundations are solid.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.