Present at  Yaoundé  as part of a special event surrounding the Cameroonian Minister of the Interior,  Paul Atanga ,  Cedric Pioline  participated in an extraordinary sporting initiative: a physical challenge aimed at entering the  Guinness World Records .

At over 60 years old, the minister embarked on a multi-hour tennis marathon without a break, in intense heat. This performance left a lasting impression on the former world number 5, both personally and athletically.

 A physical challenge that goes beyond sport 

From the first exchanges,  Cedric Pioline  emphasizes the impact of the moment:

"It was magnificent. You might think there was a slightly offbeat side to it, but I met someone passionate about tennis, a true connoisseur."

Beyond the symbolism, it is above all the  physical and mental dimension  of the challenge that impressed him:

“Playing for four hours straight, without drinking, without sitting down, in the heat… that demonstrates a great deal of  willpower, selflessness and determination  »

But the former French player also highlights another, more human aspect:

"You could see a child on the court. He smiled after every point, whether it was his own or his opponent's."

At the Golgotha ​​Tennis Club, Paul Atanga takes on the “Resistance Tournament”

 A strong message for young people and for sport 

For Pioline, this initiative goes far beyond the scope of a record:

"There's a message behind it. He set himself a personal challenge, but there were also young people watching."

He insists on the  fundamental values ​​of sport  :

“Pushing your limits, concentration, commitment… that’s what sport can teach you. And here, it was tangible.”

Atanga Pioline: "Arazi played better than me that day at Roland-Garros"

 Arazi, Roland-Garros 1998: a match that will be remembered. 

The conversation then drifted to a significant memory: the quarter-final of  Roland Garros 1998  face  Hicham Arazi .

With a mix of humor and respect, Pioline reflects on this rivalry that turned into friendship:

"We laugh about it now, but on the court, we were opponents. Off the court, it's a different story."

In hindsight, he offers a clear-sighted analysis:

"That day, he played better than me. He should have won. I won because I was at Roland-Garros, with the crowd behind me."

He pays a strong tribute to the Moroccan player:

"He was top-level. An instinctive player, an artist. Left-footed, unpredictable, very difficult to handle."

This match, lasting over four hours, illustrates, according to him, the very essence of sport:

"In these types of matches, everything comes down to a few points. There's always an element of..." uncertainty and energy difficult to explain  »

He specifically mentions a key point that Arazi still remembers:

"A drop volley I hit while diving... apparently it was an important moment."

This tournament remains his best result at Roland Garros, with a  semi final  at stake.

But what follows is more complicated:

"I had already played three five-set matches. I arrived in the semi-finals completely drained."

Against clay-court specialists, physical condition was decisive:

"I had the game to beat them, even on clay. But I had to be at 100%, even 110%."

Pioline: "Arazi played better than me that day at Roland-Garros"

 The evolution of tennis: towards a more uniform game 

Pioline also analyzes the transformations of modern tennis:

"The game has become more physical, but above all, the playing surfaces have become more uniform."

He explains :

"Clay courts have sped up, grass courts have slowed down. Today, the bounces are more similar."

Direct consequence:

"The serve-and-volley style has practically disappeared. Back then, it was essential on grass. Today, it's risky."

 Padel : an accessible sport, but not fully adopted 

When asked about the  paddle Pioline, very fashionable, recognizes its qualities:

"It's a very friendly, accessible sport; you can have fun quickly."

He observes in particular its development among former players:

"Many people in their forties and fifties take it up after tennis."

But on a personal level, the former finalist of Grand Chelem remains measured:

"I understand the appeal, but I didn't really get into it. I play a few times a year, that's all."

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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