Interview with Johan Bergeron, 127th padel player in the world, during his visit to the 16th stage of the Cupra Padel Tour in Dijon. From his remarkable return to the international circuit to his ambitious goals for 2024/2025, Johan speaks without filter. The member of the French team also discusses the key moments of his season, the challenges encountered during the Padel World Championships, and the future of the legendary pair Blanque-BergeronBetween personal anecdotes and analysis of the development of padel in France, dive into an interesting interview with lessons.

“Don’t play too fast”

Glad to see you again on this 16th stage of the Cupra Padel Tour. Let’s start with a question about the event: is this your first time participating?

Yes, this is the first time. I had heard a lot about it, but I never had the opportunity to participate because of tournaments or other commitments. This time, the opportunity presented itself, and I am really happy to be here.

What do you think of the event, especially as a professional player?

From what I saw, it's very well organized. There are a lot of people, with a nice mix of amateur and recreational players, and some who play really well. I hit a few balls with participants of different levels, and it's impressive. This type of event is essential to develop padel among a wide audience. It's really a very good initiative.

You've exchanged a few balls with amateurs. What advice would you give to someone who is starting padel?

If I had to give just one piece of advice, I would say: don't try to play too fast. Take your time to build up your points. And why not watch women's padel? The game is very tactical, slower, and you can learn a lot about positioning and the areas to aim for. Men's padel is more based on power, but for a beginner, taking inspiration from the women's game is a great idea.

A review of the current season

Let's take stock of your season. Can we talk about a positive outcome?

Yes, overall, it's very positive. I'm really happy with this year, even though there are still three tournaments left. Currently, I'm ranked 127th in the world. I started the season around 160th, so the gain is notable. Since Roland-Garros, with Bastien Blanqué, we've had some very good performances. We've beaten pairs from the Top 80, and our losses are now against very highly ranked players, like Guerrero / Bautista. It's an encouraging progression, especially after my break.

Johan Bergeron is back: “I decided to start again”

You are still far from your best ranking. How do you see the future?

It's true, my best FIP ​​ranking was 107th, but that was at the very beginning of the circuit, in a different context. This year, my goal was to reach the Top 130 before the end of the year, and I did it. Now, I'm aiming for the Top 120, betting on good performances at the Major in Mexico and at P1. A wildcard for the FIP Final would also be a great opportunity.

Evolution as a player

How do you feel right now? Are you better or different?

I would say I am different. I feel like I play better than before, thanks to maturity and experience. My one-year break gave me back the desire to do things well. I also made a lot of progress mentally with Jean-Michel Pequery, and physically, I got back to my ideal weight after gaining 8 kilos during the break. Of course, I am a little slower than before, but I have gained maturity and management of key moments. Today, the results are better, so I would say that I am at the top of my game.

The return of the Blanqué-Bergeron pair

Your collaboration with Bastien Blanqué has people talking. Can we expect great things?

With Bastien, it's a special relationship. We know each other inside out after living together for three years in Madrid. That makes things a lot easier on the pitch, even in difficult moments. For example, in Dubai, despite the fatigue, we were able to talk frankly to remotivate ourselves and win a decisive match. We'll take stock at the end of the season, but I don't see any reason why our collaboration should stop.

Looking back at the World Championships

How do you analyse the difference in level between the European Championships and the World Championships?

The team was different, younger, and it takes time to build a strong group. We finished 7th, but the reality is that we lost against Italy, clearly stronger than us, and against Brazil in a tight match that we could have won. It remains frustrating, but we must learn lessons to do better at the next European Championships.

Controversies and support from French athletes

A final word on the controversies, particularly with Uruguay?

It was complicated. Social media amplifies everything, but the reality on the pitch was different. Bastien and Thomas were insulted throughout their matches, which is not visible on television. Of course, our celebration should not have happened, and it was detrimental to us. But these tense moments are part of sport.

6/0 6/0 and a choreography that goes badly: why France attracts criticism after its victory against Uruguay

In France, I feel like we are less supported than in other countries like Spain or Argentina, where athletes are always encouraged, even after a defeat. Receiving criticism after a bad performance, but never congratulations after a victory, is a shame. That said, that's the life of an athlete, and I take that as proof that padel is gaining visibility.

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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