Alexandre Dizy, who has entered the top 100 in two years, looks back on his first steps in padel, his start to the season which he describes as “mixed” and shares his challenges and goals with us.  

His story with padel

“The reason I started playing padel, in fact, is because I was a little tired of tennis, a sport that I had started playing at the age of 4. A football friend of mine suggested that I try padel about two and a half years ago. I didn't know anything about the sport, I had never even heard of it, but I loved it immediately.

At first, I played more for fun with my football friends, we participated in small tournaments. I started to get seriously involved in padel about two years ago. Today, I am ranked number 89, but when I started padel, I never imagined that I would be able to enter the top 100 in two years!

My strong point is attack. Playing on the left, I am naturally more attacking. On the other hand, my defense is a little weaker. Another of my strong points, I think is my ability to counter, especially when I go up on the fly to neutralize the vipers. "

His start to the season

“My start to the season is quite mixed, mainly because I don't really have a regular partner. In Vichy, there are not many players of my level nearby, I often have to go to Clermont or Lyon to find partners. This makes things a little more complicated. For example, in January, I participated in a tournament in Lyon, a region where the level is very high, and we were eliminated in the round of 16. It's even more difficult since I don't have the opportunity to train regularly, I have to drive 50 minutes if I want to train with people who are around my level. The matches themselves become my training sessions, which is not ideal for preparing for tournaments.

However, there were some surprising moments, like with Raphaël Rubio in Carcassonne. We won a P1000 after I hadn't touched a racket in over two weeks. He informed me at the last minute of the opportunity, and we set off on our adventure. Ultimately, sometimes, it is in improvised circumstances that we succeed best.”

No fixed partner

“At the moment, I don't have a permanent partner. I often play with guys from Clermont, notably with Raphael Rubio. We've done quite a few tournaments together and we'll probably continue for a while longer. There is also Thomas Lachave who is getting back into it, he is also close to the top 100. Thomas Rey is another option, but as he also plays on the left, it is a little more complicated. We did a P1000 together in Lesigny and lost in the final. He moved to the right, and we still had a good tournament.”

Thomas Rey and Alexandre Dizy

Stay in the top 100

“I have never participated in a P1500 or a P2000 yet, but I think I will try. The problem at the moment is that there are not many P1000 in my area, and I am not very young anymore, I will soon be 38 years old. Of course, there are players older than me, but I discovered padel quite late and I find that a shame.

For this season, my goal will be to stay in the top 100. If I achieve that, I will be happy. Maintaining my ranking would be a great accomplishment, because the tournaments are getting more and more difficult I think.”

Dorian Massy

New padel fan, I am fascinated by this dynamic sport that combines strategy and agility. I find in padel a new passion to explore and share with you on Padel Magazine.

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