While we see many pairs make and break in France and Spain, one pair shows an unequivocal state of mind: Johan Bergeron / Bastien Blanqué. An accomplice on a field as in life, we appreciate the links that have been woven between these two phenomena of padel French.

Focus on the French champions of padel title, their start to the year and their ambitions.

Padel Magazine - The schedule of this beginning of season ...

Bastien Blanqué - After 4 weeks vacation in Toulouse with family and friends, I took over mid-January physical training in the private Sport Pro Santé center in Toulouse. A very intense 6 week program of physical training. 

For the past few days, my physical sessions have been reduced to mornings. Afternoons reserved for padel with Alexis Salles, Nicolas Trancart and Manu tecles. I play basket and play diagonally.

During the two months in France, I am looking for sponsors interested in our project. And the 20 February, I join Jo to start our season together.

Johan Bergeron - After recharging the batteries at home in Lyon, I am returned to Madrid to train. In the program : Padel with Ramiro Choya and physical with Borja (Sanyo's physical trainer). At the moment I am training with Peter Alonso (40th world), Sergio Alba, and sometimes with Allemandi (n ° 20 WPT).

PM - How are your training oriented?

BB - The big physical preparation is essential. Jo took one of the best trainers in Spain. I train at Sport Pro Santé. Many professional players of all sports pass through this room.

Concerning Padel, We take back the basket, the technical bases and we try to find the play areas. Then with diagonal play to hit as many balls as possible.

JB - This is the recovery for everyone so the training is based on technique and choice of areas depending on the ball received. This is important because with the holidays it is true that we forget things rather simple tactically. My big change this year is to have hired a recognized fitness coach here.

PM - Your goals for this year? Are you far from reaching pre-qualifiers of the WPT?

BB - The objective this year: To remain at the top in France by keeping our title of champions of France and our place of number 1 French. At World Padel Tour, we hope to arrive in Prévia on several tournaments, that is to say to win 3 matches in Pré-Prévia to hope for a 120th place in the world ...

JB - The objective is therefore clearly to do more WPT than last year to try to reach the TOP 120 worldwide. You have to play in the TOP 60/70 to reach the qualifiers for the men. We still have some way to go!

PM - What are the differences today between you and a regular pair of pre-qualifiers?

JB - The big difference is the regularity. They are able not to make the mistake while putting a big pressure on the opposing teams with sharp flights, good lobes which do not allow to finish the point ...

BB - As Johan says, the regularity while being very sharp.

PM - Do you know your schedule this year? Are we going to see you regularly in France?

BB - Our lineup is starting to take shape, we are missing the Challengers of the World Padel Tour to stall. We let's go on 11 French tournaments + the championship of France and the qualifiers at the world championships. 

JB - The first World Padel Tour will be in Barcelona mid-March. Our first French tournament will be the My Padel Mid-April tour at the casa Padel.

PM - What do you have to work together to make a success on the professional circuit?

BB - We must continue with our qualities, ie stay welded!

In Spain, from the first game in advance, there are already 200-300 people in the complex, only Spaniards, they put a lot of atmosphere which can sometimes be disturbing.

We are the only French team on the circuit, all Spanish players know each other, it is a difficult situation, totally unlike France.

JB - I think we need to continue what we are doing now. This year 1e was good. But it takes a time of adaptation on the WPT. We are the only French team AND everyone knows each other. This year the biggest course to pass is precisely to succeed in playing our game in this environment ..

PM - With your experience, what are the differences between France and Spain, in the game and the way to train?

BB -  In Madrid, where we are based, almost all pro players train there. The conditions are perfect to progress: Complexes, coaches, players, etc. everything is there.

In France we have the fault of playing too much "Tennis" or so of "playing too slowly".

In Spain, we are taught to play softly with a change of pace. Conclusion: We realize that we play fast while playing at times gently. Paradoxical and yet, this game allows the best players to be at the top of the world. On this, France must really learn.

Then in France, we have a lot of racket players and suddenly we forget to tell them that the padel it is also letting the ball pass (To make them bounce off the walls), vary the effects and the zones, make the right lobs… In Spain, in leisure, there are a lot of players.

ns gifted than in France and yet they play more padel because we teach them to play with the field.

It will certainly take 5 10 years to France to climb in the quality of overall training services. We hope to bring back all the experience accumulated in Spain in France. 

JB - Spain is years ahead of France ... Nothing but structures, there are 8 / 10 minimum terrain clubs almost all 5km and still ... All professional players here are what makes the conditions of perfect training.

In the game what I remember is that we often hear "Au padel you have to play slowly"It's true, but here we learn to play by changing the pace. Playing softly is good, but when you have a ball to finish you have to finish.
It is a chance for us to be here in contact with the best and it is true that we try to bring everything that we learn here in France when we come back.

What do you blame your partner for padel ?

 

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.

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