A few minutes after his huge victory against  Juanlu Esbrí / Sanyo Gutiérrez (6/2 4/6 7/5) Thomas Leygue stopped to speak at the microphone of Padel MagazineStill carried by the adrenaline of a  Philippe-Chatrier in turmoil The Frenchman was struggling to grasp what he had just accomplished.

Starting from the qualifiers with  Jesus Moya Leygue has just continued  four victories at Roland-Garros  and reached the round of 16 at the Paris Major. An even more impressive performance considering his difficult start to the season, marked by his return after a long injury.

"For now, I haven't fully grasped it yet."

In the heat of the moment, it's difficult for Leygue to put words to this week.

"I think that for the moment, I haven't quite grasped this victory yet. I'm really very happy."

Because behind this result, there are months of hard work. The Frenchman has come a long way after his injury and a first part of the season where results were slow to arrive.

"We've been working for a long time to come back from this injury. And even, we've been working for a long time to reach these rounds, to win big matches like this."

Reaching this level on the circuit was one of his goals. To do it  at Roland-Garros Performing in front of a French audience inevitably adds an extra dimension to the performance.

"It was a goal, it was also a dream.  Especially to do it to Roland  »

His family and the Chatrier to go and find the last resources

For nearly two hours, Leygue was able to rely on a  Philippe-Chatrier was completely won over to his cause During the difficult moments of the third set, each point won increased the noise in the stands.

And in the middle of the audience was his family.

"There's a part of me that does it for them. When things get tough, I look at them and I know they would give anything for me."

For Leygue, their presence represents much more than just support.

"My duty is to give my all on the field and try to make them proud."

And he needed it. Physically exhausted, the Frenchman admitted to finishing the match completely spent.

“At one point, I couldn’t walk anymore. But people were pushing me,”  Goosebumps, emotions, and adrenaline gave me one last burst of energy to go for this match.  »

Even though he remains very focused in his own world during matches, it's impossible to ignore what's happening around him: "I just hear a noise and people supporting me. And that makes me want to do well."

"I wasn't given an opportunity for this tournament."

His career also has a special flavor because  Leygue had not received a wild card for the main draw .

The Frenchman therefore had to start his Paris Major campaign in the qualifiers. With Moya, he successively beat  Miguel Lamperti / Ferran Insa 6/3 6/1 then  Manuel Aragón Herrera / Albert Roglan Pons 7/5 4/6 6/4  to earn his place in the table.

Then they brought down  David Gala / Enzo Jensen 7/6 6/4 , before this feat against Esbrí / Gutiérrez.

When asked about this lack of a wild card, Leygue is not looking for controversy, but his message is clear.

"I think time puts people in the right place."

And he continues:

"I wasn't given an opportunity for this tournament. That's how it is, and I obviously respect the decisions. I know what I'm capable of."

Rather than waiting for an opportunity to be presented to him, Leygue went and got it on the track.  Four games later, he is in the round of 16 of a Major. 

"With or without a wild card, I will pursue the goals I have set for myself. And I will give everything to do so."

A statement that inevitably takes on a different dimension after the journey he has just completed.

Affected from the very first points

However, there is one question mark before his round of 16 match:  his physical state .

Leygue arrived at the interview limping and revealed that he had injured himself almost at the start of the match.

"I don't even know how I started the match, because I hurt myself on the first two or three points."

Driven by the stakes, his family and the public, he nevertheless continued for three sets.

And when he recounts his state of mind at that moment, the sentence perfectly sums up the intensity with which he experienced this encounter:

"I had so much adrenaline, so much emotion, so much desire to do well in front of everyone, in front of my family, that I told myself: if I die on the field today, I will die on the field today. But I will give everything I have."

The extent of his discomfort will now need to be assessed with his team before the rest of the tournament. But Leygue leaves no doubt about his participation:

"You'll see me on Centre Court tomorrow, that's for sure."

"Why not aim for a quarter-final?"

And indeed, the next challenge will be even greater:  Franco Stupaczuk / Jon Sanz , seeded 4.

At the time of the interview, Leygue had only just learned the identity of his next opponents. He wasn't about to get too ahead of himself in the draw.

"I like to think about the match in the moment. Just winning this kind of match is incredible."

But after successively releasing Gala / Jensen and then Esbrí / Gutiérrez, the Frenchman no longer limits himself.

"They are two excellent players. That's sport, anything can happen. If we continue to play at a very high level and with the fans behind us,  Why not aim for a quarter-final on Friday?  »

After a start to the season where he was still trying to regain his form,  Thomas Leygue is experiencing a completely different week at Roland-Garros Having come through qualifying without a wildcard, he now finds himself in the round of 16 of a Major with four victories under his belt.

And above all, with the feeling of having finally rediscovered the player he had been working for months to become again.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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