Adrien Maigret: “I think I tick all the boxes”

Adrien Maigret is a special player in the landscape of padel French. This player with an atypical game and who does not have his tongue in his pocket has ambition with, in the viewfinder, the global in dubai.

"Good and less good"

Padel Magazine : Can we say that Adrien Maigret is seriously returning to business in 2022?

Adrien Maigret : I never really slowed down even if there was, it is true, a passage where I was a little less motivated.

When we separated with Benjamin Tison, I obviously had trouble finding the results and the osmosis that could exist between him and me.

He wanted to invest 100% by playing internationally and going to Spain. We see today where that led him. Today he is by far the best French player and he has achieved the feat of participating in the main draws of the World Padel Tour.

But you can't say either that I stopped playing in France. Admittedly, I did not play international tournaments, but I participated in the main French events. And the results there have been pretty good.

Padel Magazine : Since Ben, several partners with ups and downs….

Adrien Maigret : After Ben, I played with Robin Haziza, we had a short season together because of the Covid. We separated because our personal ambitions were not the same.

Then with JT Peyrou, we alternated the very good and sometimes the very bad. I remember the tournament in Perpignan, the Club du Mas P2000 where we were not good. I had been a little annoyed by the organization, which cost me dearly afterwards for the France team. We were coming out of the European championships in Marbella before this P2000 where I had won two decisive matches. And maybe I had left some nervous and physical impulses in Spain.

And then we can also talk about the poor performance during the French Championship. We lost a match that we didn't want to win, and we did everything to get home quickly... But there were also a lot of positives, we had great performances on an FIP in Italy and on the APT circuit . At each appearance in France on the P1000, we won quite easily. Unfortunately, many will only remember the negative. But not me.

“Perpignan cost me my place in Team France”

Padel Magazine : The non-selection in the French team, it is according to you because of the P2000 of Perpignan?

Adrien Maigret : It clearly cost me the selection in Team France. However, on a sporting level, we also had very good matches with JT, so we must not throw everything away.

I think that in Perpignan during the P2000 at the Club du Mas, my words did not please the FFT. The form was not good. But deep down, I think I was right. There has to be a middle ground. We must say when things are done well, but we must also say when things are less well done.

For Roland-Garros, I was the first to say how incredible it was. The tournaments that followed were also much better organized, the FFT has evolved.

On the form, I apologized, but not on the substance. I think that's the main reason for my non-selection. I regret that my past as an irreproachable player in the France team did not plead in my favor at that time. Everyone makes mistakes.

It was an extra-sporting and non-sporting decision. I had to be one of the eight. Now it's digested, I don't blame anyone.

Today is a new breath with a new coach. I made very good matches. I got more involved in international tournaments. I think I tick all the boxes.

“Scat's project change may affect my year”

Padel Magazine : You had announced to play with Jérémy Scatena in 2022…

Adrien Maigret: I signed up with Jérémy Scatena in France to play in the P2000s and the French championships in 2022.

Yann Auradou and Jérôme Inzerillo were interested in us playing together in all the tournaments (France and international), but we had great games with Scat. I liked playing with Jérémy. We always got on well on international events and it was new for me to play on the right.

Unfortunately, during the year, Scat changed plans. He was on the APT tournaments and now he wants to do all the FIPs. Balance sheet he did not keep his commitments on the P2000 in Perpignan and Paris. I played with JT in Perpignan, but I got injured just before the tournament…

In Paris, Jérémy sent me a Spanish partner, Jose Gaspar, to replace him and do the P2000 des Pyramides with him. I have no problem with Jose, but I play with affect and we can say that the conditions are not optimal. Especially since I don't speak Spanish and I don't know it. So there too, a tournament not so obvious even if we make a semi-final.

I'm just disappointed in our association or rather our non-association with Scat. I accepted everything for him: passing to the right, doing only the four P2000s and the French championship. And today, I don't even know if we're going to do the French championships together. Maybe he will want to play a FIP on those dates. If so, I will try to play with another player. I have already checked with the FFT. I can request a wild-card. But hey, it's not easy because I would have to partner with someone who did not participate in the regionals.

Padel Magazine : Are you angry with Jérémy Scatena for not having played the game this year?

Adrien Maigret: I think Jérémy is also a victim of all these circuits which evolve quickly with improbable reversals. Look at the worlds, one day we are told that it will be in Spain, and the next day that we return to Qatar. And now, finally, to Dubai. We can see that it remains very unstable.

Suddenly, the players had trouble following. This is why I understand Jérémy who is now directing his career on the FIP circuit. But he is also playing with my future in the France team. I would not like coach Pablo Ayma to blame me for a lack of performance or competitiveness because of all that. Even if without him I had good results anyway.

I want to show the coach that he can count on me.

Padel Magazine : So we saw you play with other French players…

Adrien Maigret: It is clear that this year, I don't really have a partner. I've played with many players, but it's good to have this feature and be able to play left and right and with several types of players.

I had the chance to work with Bastien Blanqué at Roland-Garros. The FFT, which I thank again, granted us a wild-card table and we made an incredible tournament by winning this first match on the central of Roland. It was one of the best matches of my career.

With Bastien we get on well and we did great things together in France and on the FIP circuit.

“My strengths: my atypical game, my ability to play left and right”

Padel Magazine : You have an atypical game, is that your greatest quality?

Adrien Maigret: I have an atypical game, I project myself quickly forward. When I team up with Bastien, who masters the defensive game perfectly, it allows me to project myself quickly forward and focus on the offensive game, which is my strong point.

I have references on the right with a very good level of play. I made very good matches on the right. So I have a satisfactory level on the right but I think I'm better on the left.

Padel Magazine : One of your strengths is finally being able to play with several partners…

Adrien Maigret: I've always had the characteristic of playing with a lot of players. I played with Benjamin Tison, with my brother Julien, with Yann Auradou, Johan Romanowski, Fred Pommier, Maxime Forcin, Robin Haziza, JT Peyrou, Julien Seurin… and many others.

My best years were with a fixed partner, but it's good to change too.

Is it even more difficult to join Team France under these conditions? Before I was sure to be taken. Now it's different. This year I will give 120% in Barcelona for the internship and show the best of myself.

There are more and more players coming into the padel, young people go on projects in Spain. The competition is much bigger, that's for sure, but I'm motivated to help the French team if they need me.

Padel Magazine : How is your end of the year organized?

Adrien Maigret: I will see with Bastien if we can evolve together.

I also contacted Dylan Guichard. He has a lot of room for improvement. I think he can play really well. I contacted him to try out a few tournaments. We are going to play the Toulouse P1000 on the weekend of September 24/25.

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.