She is still little known to the general public, but her name is beginning to circulate on the international circuit.  Dora Chamli , Tunisian number 1 in the FIP ranking, is living a unique adventure through padel. From her beginnings on the courts in Tunisia to the FIP Tour tournaments, passing through a life between Barcelona, Lyon and Tunis,  The 186th-ranked player in the world is forging her path with passion and determination. .

Met during the  FIP Silver Côte du Midi in Narbonne , Dora talks about her career, her duet with  Marianne Vandaele , its ambitions for 2025… and the challenge of existing when you come from a country where padel is only just beginning to take shape.  portrait of an inspiring player  for all those who want to believe in their dream.

 A Tunisian woman in the footsteps of international padel 

Native  Tunisia , Dora Chamli is one of the pioneers of women's padel in her country. Although the discipline is still developing there, several clubs are gradually opening their doors, and some events are already attracting  foreign players , especially Spanish.
“Padel is growing well in Tunisia, especially in recent years. There are more and more clubs, tournaments… and even foreigners coming to play. For women, we’re still at the very beginning, but things are moving forward,” she explains.

Today,  Tunisian number 1 , Dora embodies a discipline that is still in its infancy in her country. A national women's team? "Not yet, but we hope it will come with time."

 From Tunis to Barcelona, then Lyon: a European trajectory 

Dora discovered padel during her studies at  Barcelona , five years ago. “I started with tennis, but it was in Barcelona that I tried padel for the first time… and I loved it straight away!”
Back in Tunisia, she began playing in local clubs, often with men, due to a lack of female players. Then life led her to  Lyon , where her husband — also Tunisian — is living.
It was there that she joined the French circuit, played in tournaments, built a network of players... and ended up meeting her future partner.

 The meeting with Marianne Vandaele: a turning point 

“I met Marianne through a connection between my club in Tunisia, Padel Connection, and Pablo Ayma's academy, where she trains. Her coach suggested we try a tournament together... and we clicked right away."
Since then, the two players have been inseparable on the tour. They play together in France, but also internationally on the FIP Tour.

"Marianne has an incredible mentality. She stays strong in critical moments, she supports me enormously," Dora emphasizes. But she adds with a smile: "What could she improve on? Stop taking the bullets from me in the middle! We laugh about it now, but at the beginning, it wasn't easy."

 Clear ambitions: the top 150 in sight 

Actuellement  ranked 186th in the world , Dora had set herself the goal of entering the  top 200  in 2025. Goal already achieved. “Now I’m aiming for the  top 150 by the end of the year  »
But this progression is not without effort. Living in Tunisia, she must constantly organize her trips to Europe, find partners, and train in good conditions.

"At first, it was very complicated. Few girls playing, little visibility, few sponsors. But that's changing. Today, Tunisian companies are starting to take an interest in padel and support the athletes."
She confirms that padel is now  attached to the Tunisian Tennis Federation , which helps to structure the discipline.

 A life-changing passion 

Padel is not just a sport for Dora: it is a  central element of his life . “This is the first time I’ve invested so much in a discipline. Padel has really changed my life.”
Coming from tennis, which she played “for fun” with a few tournaments under her belt, she found in padel a project, a rhythm of life and real motivation.

Her entourage, initially surprised, is now completely behind her: "My family is proud of me. And I hope to be able to progress further."

With a warmer climate than in France, the majority of Tunisian clubs are today  indoor , although there are also outdoor courts. "My club is indoor, but we also train outdoors. It's not always easy with the sun and the heat, but it's a good physical workout."

 A player who fights to exist on the circuit 

Finding a partner, making yourself known, accessing the right tournaments… for a Tunisian player, the path is fraught with pitfalls. “I had to establish myself on my own, travel to Spain and France, build relationships, and train at different clubs. Today, things are falling into place, but it took time.”

She remains clear-headed: to progress, you have to go abroad. "In Tunisia, there are motivated girls, but to progress on the FIP Tour, you have to be in Europe."

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.

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