Alix Collombon, the first French female padel player, looks back on her recent matches at the GPM 2024 and analyses her performances, marked by ups and downs. She also tells us about her collaboration with her partner Araceli Martinez and how she approaches the competition. Between regularity and management of key moments, Alix shares her thoughts with us.

Fighting irregularities

Positive start to Roland-Garros. There were some very good things, but also some more difficult moments. Can we say that you have been fighting against these ups and downs since the beginning of the year?

Yes, it is a problem this year, for sure. It is better to be consistent. Yesterday (Monday), for example, Araceli told me that she was just a bit in that style. She started making mistakes that were quite “easy” for her.

GPM 2024 – Pothier / Soubrié gave Alix Collombon and Araceli Martinez a hard time

I think it's more a matter of being distracted or maybe wanting a little too much. I can have my ups and downs too.

An almost perfect first set, and then mistakes appear. How do you explain that?

It's true that the first set was almost perfect, then in the second, we started making stupid mistakes. And opposite, Lulu and Soussou (Lucile Pothier and Charlotte Soubrié) played better and made fewer mistakes.

We really need to work on this regularity, because against Rodriguez / Orsi, we have a playable but difficult match. If we are not consistent, that is what can cost us the victory. It is therefore essential to be more consistent.

Alix Collombon first padel

With Araceli, the feeling of being able to break this glass ceiling

Do like Rafael Nadal, whatever the opponent, to avoid these drops in form?

Exactly, that's a great approach. I hate going onto a pitch and thinking, "I can play halfway." That's the best way to scare yourself, play badly, and most importantly, lose.

It is therefore essential to go all out in each match and maintain this intensity. If we drop off a little, even against a pair that is on paper less strong, it can very quickly balance out. There are no more pairs that are not playing well.

With Araceli, do you think you have found a certain stability?

I would like to say yes, but with what has been happening in padel for the past two years, I don't dare to say too much anymore. Today, it could go well, and tomorrow, there could be a call from a higher ranked player, an injury... There are so many factors to take into account. But in my mind, I want it to last.

Alix Collombon first padel Araceli Martinez

The difficulty of maintaining a top level

You told me that her game suited you. Do you think that with her, you have the means to break through that famous glass ceiling you were talking about last time?

Yes, I have that feeling. In our first two tournaments together, with very little preparation, we played a great match against Aranzazu Osoro / Veronica Virseda. Then we followed up with a three-set match against Salazar and Castelló. They are very strong pairs, and yet we played well, with a good regularity.

What we still lack is to manage the matches where we are favourites and to maintain consistency. But when we play well together, we are capable of reaching a very good level.

You say it's difficult to beat pairs like that because they have multiple game plans. How do you approach them on the court?

The problem with these pairs is that they have so many resources. If you hurt them in a set, they will adjust their game, and you will force and make mistakes. They have a plan A, B, C… until they find a flaw.

The hard part is maintaining this very high level for two and a half hours. That's where it's at.

Playing as well as possible, but missing that consistency…

Do you feel you can compete with them on a pure playing level?

Yes, completely. In the game, I can say that I play like them. With Gemma Triay and Ari Sanchez, for example, I have already won sets against them, even if I have never won. But yes, I have the level. Now, you have to be able to maintain it for a whole match.

You often talk about regularity. Is that where the difference lies?

Exactly. Even if you win a set, if you drop a little in the second, you can lose it 6/1 or 6/2, and then, the machine is launched for them. It's really the management of key moments that makes the difference.

And do you have a mental coach who supports you in this process?

Yes, Pier Gauthier is my coach.

Last question: you are going to play the FIP Gold in Lyon. What are your goals?

At home, we go for it victory. Yesterday, we were seeded number 4, so the objective is clearly to win. We are going to Lyon to give our 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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