Adrien Maigret: from debatable to indisputable at the 2022 Worlds

Adrien Maigret, arrived on tip-toes in the France team for the Worlds, has become an “indisputable” over the matches. Captain Pablo Ayma has even changed his initial plans to replace him on the left, alongside French number 1 Benjamin Tison.

Unquestionably, the French n°8 is certainly the very good surprise on the side of the France team.

He tells us.

"I could have not been selected! I end up with the bronze medal”

First, I remind you that I could not have been selected. The coach, Pablo Ayma, was very honest with me. He hesitated with a younger profile who invests a lot in the padel, namely Dylan Guichard.

Today he is in Spain with a structure behind him. So obviously, I understand that Pablo hesitated.

But, during this internship of the French team in Barcelona, I think I gained points. I played very well and I still have experience. I think that made the difference.

I played with Jérémy Scatena and Bastien Blanqué. The associations have convinced.

And the internship was very important for my selection for the Worlds. I think I did the necessary on all counts and offered the best version of me. On the other hand, Pablo had rather positioned me on the right.

"I arrive as a right-hand player and limited substitute, I end up as an almost indisputable left-hand player"

In the end, I mainly arrived as a right-wing player in this France team. And I finished left player. It is true that the evolution is interesting to analyze.

With Johan Bergeron, we are able to play on the left as well as on the right. I was mainly a player on the left and I switched to the right with Jérémy Scatena. For Jo, it's the opposite, he started playing on the left with Benjamin Tison. So we had interesting profiles for the coach, because we are able to play well on both sides.

The match that made the difference was the one against Mexico. Ben had hurt his leg a little during practice. Pablo wanted to preserve it. So he put him in match 3. And he chose to partner me with him. If we were leading 2/0, which was bound to happen barring an accident, he would be very quiet. And that's what happened. We therefore played a game without stakes, but which turned out to be the trigger for the rest of the adventure. We had a very good game.

I redid a match on the right with Scat. We played pretty well. But Pablo decided to make me go back to Ben because it was going well. I think Ben enjoyed playing with me too. Finally, I hope. For me, of course, it's a huge pleasure to play with him.”

“With Ben, we are even better than before”

Ben is today unquestionably the number 1 of the team. He's not the same player as in the past when I played with him.

For example, at the time, we weren't very good in defence. Now Ben defends very well. And it allows me to project myself forward.

I love playing as a team in these types of events. Some people put pressure on themselves. For me it's the opposite effect. I felt very good.

Pablo knew how to find the words to put me in optimal conditions. He handled me very well I think. And playing with the number 1 in the team helps!”

Benjamin Tison Adrien Maigret Pablo Ayma coaching

Pablo broke the Tison / Bergeron pair

We ended up with three homogeneous pairs during this World Cup, but the captain made some last minute modifications in a certain way after our performances, in particular against Mexico.

Johan Bergeron was placed on the right. Considering the conditions in Dubai, it was certainly very sensible. He is stronger than me on the right, and with Jérémy the duo is interesting.

I'm a better player on the left than on the right. Even if on the right I think I'm good. I was 3^e at the French championships anyway. But it will depend on the opportunities. With Scat, it was obvious for me to go right. But if I can go back to the left with a very competitive right player...

I am looking for a partner

Seeing Maigret / Tison again like at the French championships is not on the agenda. And then Ben is very busy internationally. But I think there are pairs that will move.

Le Toulouse P2000, I had to play it with Dylan Guichard. In the end, we don't do it together. So I'm looking for a partner for the P2000. On the other hand, it is the end of the association between Scat and me, because it is simply not sufficiently available. We haven't played much together.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.