After the disappointment of Barcelona, ​​Léa Godallier and Daiara Valenzuela responded perfectly in Finland, winning the FIP Silver Espoo II title. This important victory, coming up at the Paris Major at Roland-Garros, further confirms the potential of their still relatively new partnership. Padel MagazineThe Frenchwoman reflects on the defeat in Barcelona, ​​the work done with her team, the demonstration made in the final and the rest of her program. 

Barcelona: a defeat linked to "too much pressure"

 Lea Godallier:  Honestly, we had spent three or four days training together. Dai had come to France so that we could work together and put in place some tactical schemes.

I think the main factor was arriving at these tournaments as favorites. We both put pressure on ourselves and didn't approach the match very well. We started poorly, without feeling great, but it's also our fault because we put too much pressure on ourselves.

Whereas when you play with pleasure, desire and confidence, that's when you play extremely well.

We really didn't play a good match. They, on the other hand, played a very good one. I think we weren't playing the right way and we weren't putting in the necessary energy.

We lost by the skin of our teeth. It's a shame because we were down 5/2 or 5/1 in the third set and came back to 5/4 with a break point to level the score at 5 all.

But, in reality, we don't deserve to win this match.

The turning point after Barcelona and working with Baptiste Benetoux

After Barcelona, ​​we had a big meeting with Dai and Bat [Baptiste Benetoux, his coach]. Bat even came to Finland and it did Dai a lot of good, obviously, but also me.

We were really able to prepare things, both mentally and tactically.

The idea was also to keep in mind that even if we lost, it wasn't the end of the world. We're in a building phase, in a process. Winning or losing immediately isn't necessarily the most important thing.

What matters is being able to apply what we've been working on in matches. We know that with time, this will bring us victories and, I hope, some very impressive ones.

FIP Silver Espoo II: a rise to power all the way to the final

Match after match, we found our rhythm. And the final was ultimately the culmination of all the work done before the tournament, but also during the week between us, with Bat and Dai.

I think they were hit head-on, obviously.

There wasn't a single moment when they were given a breather. Some games were close, but as soon as we got to the important points, we were even more focused.

The goal was really to never let them into the game. That was extremely important. And for our part, it was crucial to maintain that momentum and energy.

Léa Godallier and Daiara Valenzuela: undiminished confidence despite defeat

Since I started playing with Dai, I haven't had a single doubt.

When we step onto the field, it's to win.

And what's great about Dai is precisely what we said to ourselves after Barcelona: just one week after a defeat in a match that, on paper, we perhaps shouldn't have lost, we were able to remobilize immediately.

This defeat has in no way affected the confidence we have in our team.

We arrived in Finland a little shaken, of course, but still convinced that we were on the right track.

I am extremely proud of the work done as a team.

Léa Godallier and Daiara Valenzuela, Barcelona's title frustration in Finland before Roland-Garros

The Godallier / Valenzuela association set to last?

I hope it lasts, yes!

As I've already told you, each new tournament with her is a bit of a victory.

I get the impression, at least from what she tells me, that she feels very comfortable with me and that I allow her to play her best padel. For me, that's a great source of pride.

I really hope this lasts a long time because I believe that when we have 100% confidence,  We play really, really well together. .

Paris Major: Roland-Garros becomes the priority

I will not play the FIP in Marnes-la-Coquette because I know the tournament ends on Saturday, just before Roland Garros.

We've already had the experience of playing a FIP just before a tournament Premier PadelThe problem is that when you have to double-check almost every day on a FIP program before moving on to... Premier PadelPhysically, it's complicated.

So this time, we're going to prepare Roland calmly.

We will arrive on Saturday or Sunday morning and try to prepare for this tournament as best we can.

 Roland-Garros is important to me So the goal now is really to arrive in the best possible conditions.

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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