We know it exists. a lot of similarities between tennis and paddle.
posture, right hit, reverse, flight…the bases are close, and that is often what makes the natural transition for many.
However, contrary to popular belief, the professional level padel has few players who have "passed" from one yellow ball to another.
Among men, there are almost none at the highest level. Among women, two players are exceptionsWe explain their journey to you...

Gemma Triay: from high-level tennis to the elite of padel worldwide

Before becoming one of the big stars of world padel, Gemma Triay devoted fifteen years of his life tennis.
En 2010, just 19 years, a injury puts an abrupt end to his ambitions in professional tennis. Never mind: three years later, carried by a intact thirst for competition, she takes her first steps on the slopes of paddle.
It will only take him four short years to explode onto the international scene, landing his first trophies en 2017 alongside Lucía Sainz.

Since then, it has been a real rocket : world number 1 en 2020, 2021 et 2022, many world titles with the Spanish team in the bag...
Gemma's journey is clear proof that with resilience and a good dose of determination, we can turn a hard blow into a great success. The place of world number 1 is now within reach for the versatile Spanish player.

His tennis experience has clearly given him a ahead for stolen, net game, and especially this tactical vision essential at the highest level.
But she often repeated it: Padel is not tennis with walls. It was necessary unlearn certain reflexes, understand rebounds, play as a team instinctively…
In short, rebuild your game piece by piece.

Alix Collombon: from the ITF circuit to the padel courts

In 2025, Alix Collombon is the figurehead of French padel. Before thrilling the fans, she also experienced the tennis rigor high level.

Trained in France, she has had a solid career on the ITF circuit, accumulatingexperience and securities. But one day, thedesire for change settles in. In 2015, she launches into the paddle.
In an interview with his sponsor Wilson, she explains her choice:

“In padel, I found everything I missed in tennis, and it won me over from the first moment.”

Alix Collombon partners with Wilson

In just a few years, Alix becomes French No. 1, installs on the world circuit, and proves at every tournament that the Tennis can be a springboard…provided you have the courage, the strength and talent to reinvent oneself between four windows !

This is the great strength of padel: we often believe that it is easily accessible to the best tennis players, that it is enough to transpose his gestures.
Well no! There is a real one specificity du padel player and if being good at tennis is an asset, it can also become a handicap if we do not does not leave of his initial reflexes.
To reach the highest level, one must become a pure padel playerThe merit of these two champions is all the greater!

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