French padel has just reached a new major milestone with the inauguration of the National Training Center Padel (CNE) à Vichy, in the presence of Gilles Moreton, president of the French Tennis Federation, and Frederic Aguilera, mayor of Vichy.
A place unique in France, designed to structure the high level, train the new generation and professionalize a discipline in full expansion.
French padel changes dimension
It’s hard to miss the phenomenon: more than 500 000 practitioners, 3 tracks et 1 clubs affiliates FFT Across the country.
La French Tennis Federation understood it well: padel is no longer a simple “leisure sport”, but a real national performance project.
"The priority will be to develop within the clubs, to weave our web in the regions by building tracks in our clubs, because today, when we want to organize competitions all over France, we are still obliged to rent tracks here and there, due to a lack of available infrastructure," explains Gilles Moretton, president of the FFT.
The FFT has multiplied initiatives to support this growth, between major competitions - such as the Alpine Paris Major - And infrastructure development.
"We absolutely must accelerate the construction of padel courts and schools, to defend our associative model while drawing inspiration from the private model, which is doing remarkable work," continues Moretton.
Vichy, a logical choice
Installed at Sporting Tennis Padel of Vichy Community, on the edge of theMix, the center benefits from an exceptional environment: golf, racecourse, CREPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, aquatic stadium…
"Vichy is a city that breathes sport. This place ticks all the boxes: central, accessible, and already equipped with high-level infrastructure," summarizes Frédéric Aguilera, Mayor of Vichy.
A tool for high-level service
Le CNE was designed for bring together the best young French people, aged 13 to 18 year-olds, and offer them a full training, sports and school.
Objective: to prepare the elite of tomorrow in conditions worthy of largest European centers.
The project also aims to be a training center for coaches and reception area for French teams, internships and international competitions included.
Soon, the French championships at the CNE in Vichy?
Top-of-the-range facilities
Site matters 12 padel courts (6 indoor, 6 outdoor), one health and performance center, a weight room, a recovery area, balneotherapy pools, a restaurant and a brand new accommodation center.
All connected to the CREPS recently renovated, which ensures a comprehensive support for young athletes.
An experienced technical team
To pilot the project, the FFT brought together a solid team.
At the head of the CNE, Alexia Dechaume, Ancient 46th ranked tennis player in the world, manages the high level.
It is based on:
• Juan Alday, strong of 36 years of experience and former coach de Belasteguín et Marta Marrero, present one week each month,
• Baptiste Bénetoux, trainer of Léa Godallier,
• Jeremy Garcia, 24th French player and coach of young hopefuls,
• And Thibault Martin, responsible for CNE.
"My goal will be to bring my experience to all these young people, and even to go much further. We have enormous ambition, beyond the French circuit: we want to go as far as possible," Jérémy Garcia told us.
Generation 2025
The first promotion counts 12 young boarders from many French leagues.
Among them :
• Olivier Guy de Chamisso (Ile-de-France):
“All the infrastructure is incredible, you couldn’t dream of anything better.”
• Augustine Charpentier (Hauts-de-France):
“As soon as I found out I was accepted, I jumped for joy! The CNE is an incredible opportunity, especially with everything that is in place for us.”
Or Johan Peloux (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), Lylwenn Laforge (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes), Elise Le Roux (Reunion)…
Everyone dreams of following the traced path by Alix Collombon, Léa Godallier or Carla Touly, already established in the World Top 100.
The beginning of a new era
With this center, the FFT poses a essential stone to the structuring of French padel.
Between infrastructure, expertise and ambition, Vichy becomes the beating heart of French padel.
A project designed on the long term, so that the talents of tomorrow can train in conditions worthy of the best nations in the world.
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