Hugo Donne: the early maturity of an organizer like no other

At only 22 years, Hugo Donne is already leading a major FIP Silver in Bandol. The tournament director looks back at the highlights of this second edition, the challenges encountered, upcoming projects... and the family adventure behind this project.

A dream plateau in Bandol

"The lineup was exceptional this year," says Hugo Donne. "We welcomed more than six players from the world's top 50, some even reached the top 20. That's huge for a tournament like Bandol. Last year, our seeds were barely in the top 90!

The same observation is made on the women's side, with the presence of players from world top 40A milestone reached in terms of level and attractiveness for the tournament.

Hugo Donne: the early maturity of an organizer like no other

A loyal audience, strengthened volunteers

The attendance was also a highlight of this edition. "The stands were packed from the round of 16 onwards. It's a real pleasure to see such an engaged crowd."

Hugo also emphasizes the quality of the work behind the scenes: "Our team of volunteers has grown and, above all, become more professional. We had a real team, solid and experienced, which made the organization much smoother."

Towards an open-air arena?

Despite these successes, areas for improvement have already been identified: "Next year, we will have to rework the structure of the central stadium. We are considering either returning to a format with closed stands, or even a full-fledged arena »

And why not some hospitality lodges worthy of the biggest events? “It’s in the pipeline. The spectator experience still needs to go up a notch.”

Mystery location for the 2026 edition

The next edition is already in preparation. But where will it take place? Hugo remains evasive:
"We're exploring several avenues. The club, a landscaped park, the beach... or even a field on the water! We're dreaming big, but everything will depend on the permits. What is certain is that there will be a third edition »

Rules to be clarified for organizers

Like many FIP tournament organizers, Hugo had to deal with last-minute cancellations:
“Some players register on both the FIP and Premier PadelResult: two days before the tournament, seeded players are withdrawing, and the draw has to be redrawn several times. stricter regulations on this point would be welcome."

A clear vision for 2026

Next year promises to be ambitious for the family structure:

Opening of a second C5 club in Borgo, near Bastia, with 14 covered tracks
Application for the organization of a P2000 in Corsica
Medium-term objective: to welcome a big FIP tournament in Corsica

"We want to continue to create major events, in Corsica and elsewhere, both nationally and internationally," says Hugo.

A family project… and a generational one

Despite his young age, Hugo Donne already manages large-scale projects with astonishing maturity. "I always knew I wanted to work in sports events. But what I enjoy most is doing it." with your family, with my father, Frédéric Donne.

"He trusts me completely. This is the first time he's delegated almost the entire organization of the tournament to me. He's always there to support me when I need him. And above all, we're moving forward together, without any tension."

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.