Jérôme Bécasset: “A simple sentence from Yannick Noah and my phone didn’t stop ringing”

Jérôme Bécasset, emblematic figure of padel in France, from his beginnings in a small club in Lyon to the organization of the first French Championships.

He shares with us his memorable anecdotes, including one with Yannick Noah and Gaël Monfils, his ambitions as a referee, and his vision of the development of the padel, including its potential at the Olympics.

His story with padel

“So I discovered the padel in 2012, in a campsite in Spain, and I became crazy about this sport in just two games. When I returned to France, I looked for somewhere to play, but I couldn't find anything, because it didn't exist yet. In Lyon, a club installed a track padel A year later, in Écully, but apart from that, nothing. Just one outdoor track, with very few players.

Eight months later, I'm in a poker club, and one day a guy at the table is talking about padel. He mentions that he is going to open a club, and that's where the adventure begins. Padel Central. I started as a volunteer, taking care of creating a club affiliated with the FFT. We were the first FFT club to Padel Central, and as soon as it was possible, after the FFT General Assembly in 2014, we organized the first FFT tournaments in our club. This is how I became the president of the first 100% club padel in France.

Padel Central was a club that unfortunately closed three years later, in 2017. So that makes exactly 10 years since Padel Central was created this month. We were the first club and organized the first FFT French Championships in 2015. We also had a big tournament where Gaël Monfils came to play, attracting 400 people to the club, as well as many media. Unfortunately, at the end of 2017, the club had to close due to management problems. The club closed in December and, in January, Esprit Padel opened 20 km away, on the other side of Lyon.

Naturally, I ended up there. After discussions, I took charge of organizing all tournaments and competitions for Esprit Padel. The club started to grow little by little. Three years ago, we organized 50 to 60 tournaments per year, then we went to 120 tournaments per year. Last year, after a discussion with the boss, Sébastien Cornet, we agreed that it was taking a lot of time from my personal and professional life. That's when we decided that I would become a full-time employee to take care of everything related to the competitions and the animation of the club.”

His anecdote with Monfils and Noah

“I remember a tournament we were organizing in Padel Central with Gaël Monfils, in my small club of 50 members. What was supposed to be a local event turned into something much bigger. I found myself holding a press conference in our modest meeting room, surrounded by 5 or 6 journalists and two television cameras. It was surreal, and all of this is partly thanks to Yannick Noah, even if it was indirect.

That Friday, at noon, the Davis Cup was being played in Japan. Yannick Noah, who was no longer selecting Gaël Monfils at the time, was constantly questioned about Gaël's absence. Then, at 12:05, live on RMC INFO and BFM, Noah said: “Yes, I saw that Gaël Monfils is participating in a tournament padel in Lyon this weekend. I hope he doesn't get injured." He was clearly implying that Gaël was taking unnecessary risks.

And then, everything changed. From 12:10, my phone didn't stop ringing. All the sports media in France wanted to know more. I didn't hang up until 18:00 p.m., after speaking to all the sports editorial offices in the country. This moment will remain etched in my memory.

Monfils: YES to padel and NO Davis Cup

Among my great memories, there are the first French Championships of padel in 2015, when Robin Haziza and Laura Clergue became French champions. These are truly significant moments. More recently, with Esprit Padel, this year we organized the first French Championships for over 45s.

I kind of realized a “Grand Chelem”: the French Senior Championships in my club, the French Over-45 Championships also in my club and the youth championship as a referee.”

His ambitions

“My ambitions are first of all to pass my JAP 3 level this year to be able to compete in the biggest French competitions as a main referee, and not just as an assistant. Then, I don't set myself any limits: become an international referee, officiate at FIP tournaments, or at circuit competitions, why not.

I would like to continue to innovate and develop new formats of entertainment and tournaments within Esprit clubs Padel... "

The development of padel

“What I have noticed is that federal involvement has been growing with the development of our sport. First for years, a little on tiptoe, but with a historic and motivated manager whom I salute here: Stéphane Berrafato. Since the end of Covid, everything has accelerated both in our clubs and at the FFT. What is in place today, or in the process of being put in place, is very positive. The management of the padel, with an increased number of employees, many competent people in key positions, involved and motivated, this is something we have been asking for for years. It has been in place for two years, and it is already very effective at present and a very good promise for the future.”

Le padel in 10 years

“In 10 years, will we have reached the famous plateau in terms of the number of courts and players? For me, the only limits to this sport are linked to the possibilities of installing courts and the availability of investors. Tennis clubs have very little means; when they manage to install 4 tracks, it is already enormous. But the real development of the padel relies on private structures that build 10 or 12 tracks each time. This is where the sport benefits from real boosts. It is this model that is essential for a massive development of the padel. "

Le padel at the Olympics

“I don’t know, because there are many sports that have been trying to get in for decades without success. We’ll see. There are many sports in competition, like squash and pickleball. Many disciplines are moving. Everything will depend on the political will and the ability of the FIP to impose itself.”

Dorian Massy

New follower of padel, I am fascinated by this dynamic sport which combines strategy and agility. I find in the padel a new passion to explore and share with you on Padel Magazine.