A Davis Cup format in padel for “very leisure” players is the already successful bet ofHubert Lacour, figure of the paddle On the sidelines of the International Padel Club Cup in Malaga, the referee and entrepreneur, Hubert explains to us this format of team meetings over one day, which arouse impressive enthusiasm on the part of the Big Padel in Bordeaux.

One-day team matches: already a success

I am lucky, Big Padel Merignac, to have a certain freedom over the projects that I present to Louis et Antoine (the founders of the Bordeaux club). With Louis, we decided to try a new format in November: a team meeting over one day, with four pairs per team. The idea was to mix everything up: women's, mixed and men's teams. And before registration even opened, it was a real tidal wave. We already have more than twelve teams registered, either 96 players, and we're going to have to turn people away, otherwise the waiting times between matches will be too long.

Faced with this enthusiasm, we are preparing a big event in December, this time over two days. We will welcome 36 teams of three pairs, with group stages on Saturday and the final stages on Sunday. This craze really exceeds all our expectations!

Looking for the tennis team atmosphere in padel

I was in the front row three or four years ago when the first departmental meetings were organized by the league. At the time, I was a referee and I saw a great excitement among padel players, especially those coming from tennis, who were looking to find that team atmosphere that they knew. I myself, as a tennis player and captain, felt that this demand was strong in padel.

Today, even those who do not come from tennis discover this atmosphere, a bit like the Davis Cup. It's really cool and there's a huge amount of enthusiasm. I think we need to explore this path and maybe organize some interclub meetings ou interleague, in order to shake up amateur padel.

Are you interested in P250 team matches?

It depends on thehomologation of the competition. We have approved in P250, and I think that's the format we'll use most often. We might run a competition in P100 for less experienced players. Why not a format P25 by team, even if it risks being more complicated with the cut at 20 000. The format P250 is nice, because everyone gets something out of it. Of course, some teams will have one or two stronger pairs, but the important thing is really to participate and find that team atmosphere, comparable to the Davis CupThe atmosphere on the edge of the field is incredible!

This Davis Cup type system at the Big Padel elsewhere

I am ready to put myself at the service of clubs that wish to offer this type of tournament and entertainment. I have already spoken to several clubs around Bordeaux, and they are very interested. I hope that this format will develop, because the team competition has its place in padel. It is not just an individual sport, it is really a team sport and there is a bright future for this format.

The first team meeting will take place on 9th November à Big padel. We have 12 teams of 4 pairsEither 96 players over one day. Then a bigger event is planned for December 7 and 8, with 36 teams of 3 pairs in P250 format.

Updated 05/11: “After a constructive discussion with the head of competitions of Padel France, we decided to suspend team competitions until the establishment of the divisions R1, R2 and R3. The tournament of 7 December will therefore take place in the usual format P100. "

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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