Alix Collombon: “Never again talk about tactics in the locker room!”

Alix Collombon is one of the best players in padel in France if not the best on the right. In 2 years, she managed with her partner Jessica Ginier to become the best French pair of padel. 

Champion of France 2017, 3rd place at the last European Championships with the French team, round of 8 on the WPT de Catalunya Master, 1 victory in the "Gran Slam" on the Catalan circuit, in short, a CV that is starting to grow. expand ...

Focus on Alix Collombon.

The first time I played padel It was to Padel Central in Lyon (Dardilly) with a friend who wanted to show me around. And it was love at first sight!

A few months later I wanted to do an internship to improve myself at Real Padel Club with a certain Robin Haziza (1st time we met) and he told me at the end of the course " you have to find a partner, play, train and aim for the world championships at the end of the year! ".

We were in June I think, I did not have a partner and the world championships were in 5 months. So I took a little fun to say.

But… I talk to Jessica Ginier, my friend and tennis doubles partner, who to please me (initially!) Says OK. Finally, we managed to win our place for the world championships by finishing 4th at the 2016 French championships.

And today I live the experience to the full padel with Robin in Barcelona. What fate!

My best tennis ranking was 420 at the WTA. Vice champion of France 15 / 16 years, several selections with the young French team and I played Roland Garros doubles in 2014. So the meaning of the yellow ball, I think I have it.

My past in tennis inevitably helped me at the start for the padel even if we realize in the end that it is very different. Let's say I started the padel by having a good technical background on the fly. In terms of power, I also have it. And this parameter in girls is very important because it often makes the difference.

But the padel is evolving strongly in France as in Europe ... It has become fashionable sport in many countries. The number of practitioners is starting to be more important than before, so it is in your interest to work to stay up to date.

• What do you prefer in the padel ?

The fly, the bandeja but what I prefer is the strong, slightly topspin smash coming out of the field 🙂 You still have to have the ball to do it ..

What I like least is the defense even though I'm learning more and more to love.

• For these French championships of padel, who will you play with?

With my Jessica Ginier of course!

• Your blow of mouth 

The difference in prize money between men and women on the professional circuit: The World Padel Tour.

Now I can talk about it concretely and the difference is crazy!

I believe the padel feminine deserves a little more consideration, it evolves every year and becomes more and more spectacular. There are no more spectators for the semi and finals men than for women so it is not a question of "ticket sales".

Even if I am not for "perfect equality" because the level and the number of players in the men is impressive, but I am for a smaller difference.

• Let go!

Very recent anecdote. My 1er WPT in Barcelona, ​​first round of previas .. We do the briefing of the match with Juan Alday and Sara Pujals my partner.

At that moment, I did not understand everything in Spanish yet ... So in the locker room after the briefing, I ask Sara to give me a summary to see if I understood correctly .. So she tells me the tactics to put in place ... and there, one of our opponents out of the toilet.

We look at Sara (great moment of solitude ahahah).

Finally, we win the match 5 / 7 6 / 0 6 / 2 and we will never know if this conversation had an impact or not.

Obviously, we waited for the end of the tournament and our 8e finals to talk to Juan. He laughed and told us " never again do you talk tactically to the locker room! »