Ben Tison: "I am now getting closer to the best"

Last May, Ben Tison told us “I have never been so fit”. Today, alongside Jeremy Sactena, the new French N ° 1 multiplies performance with in particular two consecutive previa finals. He answers questions from Lorenzo Lecci López.

Very good results

Lorenzo Lecci Lopez: On the World Padel Tour, you do great performances, including two previas finals. We are very close to passing the course and entering the main draw, what do you think?

Benjamin Tison: "I am very happy. This is my first year in Spain to train. The year was a bit difficult, because we played really well in training, beating pairs 50-60, but we did not confirm in an official match.

We had a little click in the middle of the year making a first previa and beating the pair Zapata / Gaspar Campos. We continued in Italy with a last round of previa, then we won at the Pyramids and we did a last round of previa.

When you know the difficulty of just entering previa, then winning two matches in previa is quite something. The objective remains to make a table.

We see that the work pays off, and that the level is very similar between the first round of pre-previa and the last round of previa. These are just big games, and anyone can beat anyone. The difficulty is to move on. ”

A positive dynamic for the padel French

Lorenzo Lecci López: These are perfs never achieved by French players. For our padel and its development, what do these previa finals represent? Do you open the way for others?

Benjamin Tison : "Yes that's it. As we do and it is achievable, for others who have roughly the same level as us. It shows that it is possible.

Already when I was playing with my former partner Adrien Maigret, as we did not yet know the middle of the padel, we didn't have that apprehension. We had already done previa, and we had good results.

We don't have this mental barrier when we face our opponents, we are not intimidated and we do not tell ourselves that it is impossible. I think that frees us all. I am thinking of Jo Bergeron who has just made a previa. Everyone follows the dynamic, because the level is there.

The French are no longer just figuration, without lacking humility. The look of the opponents has changed, we are treated with more respect, and the players know us. ”

Ben and Scat for 2021?

Lorenzo Lecci López: The bond with Scat is incredible, it works really well, what is planned? Are you going to stay together?

Ben Tison: “There are two WPTs left to finish the year, so we're going to do them together for sure. After that, it's a very strange year: there are fewer tournaments, in France it's canceled. There are times that are a bit hard, it is not easy for us players of padel who do just that, to keep motivation always to the extreme. Overnight it can be undone, it's hard to set goals and be focused all the time.

With Scat, we'll take stock at the end of the year, and we'll see. We can't say anything beforehand, but it's true that it went well this year, so normally… ”

“We live with a sword of Damocles above our heads”

Lorenzo Lecci López: Faced with the new sanitary measures, how are you doing in Spain? How do you adapt?

Benjamin Tison: “We can train. For now, bars and restaurants are closed. They have just introduced a 6-month curfew between 23 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The training conditions remain normal in Barcelona, but we live a little with a sword of Damocles over our heads. We do not dare to plan, we buy plane tickets less than a week in advance. What is hard is that we go through the trick and we can't do anything. We can just practice and try to be ready in case there's a tournament.

We are supposed to play Friday morning in Elche, but we are not even sure that it will be maintained… We are not immune to the closing of sports halls. ”

“Take an even bigger step”

Lorenzo Lecci López: Last May, you told us “I have never been so fit”. And today you are doing even better, notably with a first place in the French ranking!

Benjamin Tison: "Yes, it's true ! Last May, when I said that, it was because I really felt that we could do previa on the WPT, even tables. We got closer so I think I had a good feel for it.

Today I feel very good, I have made significant physical progress, I am now getting closer to the best in defense. I think I am not far from passing another milestone. I believe in it more and more. ”

Lorenzo Lecci Lopez

From his names, we can guess his Spanish and Italian origins. Lorenzo is a multilingual passionate about sports: journalism by vocation and events by worship are his two legs. He is the international gentleman of Padel Magazine. You will often see it on the various international competitions, but also on the major French events. @eyeofpadel on Instagram to see his best photos of padel !