Claude Baigts, President of the French Open of padel, returned to this first edition in Perpignan, Place de la Victoire. Le Castillet is an almost over-realistic setting with this door dating from the 16th century.

Claude therefore looks back on the success of the French Open in padel Mutuelle du Rempart Perpignan and announces that it is already preparing for next year!

  • The French Open of padel in Perpignan, it is an audience that knows the padel.

The French Open of Padel Mutuelle du Rempart Perpignan exceeded our already ambitious expectations. The public responded en masse for 3 days. An audience of connoisseurs. Many people know the padel in Perpignan and its region. And it was seen.

The city of Perpignan is a discerning public who benefits from the enormous work done by the clubs on the spot. I think we can pay tribute to Alain Henry and his teams with the club Mas. Because this club has planted a seed that is bearing fruit today, with many clubs here and nearby.

  • A first edition that will lead to other editions in Perpignan?

This first edition of the Open de France in Perpignan is not the last. On the contrary. We had a capacity of 400 people sitting. Conclusion: we ended up with more than 250 people standing, so much the event was a success.

I can tell you that the French Open of Padel of the City of Perpignan will be renewed until 2020. The Mayor, Marc Pujol, the sports assistant, Fatima Daïne, and all the elected officials have succeeded at Place de la Victoire in Perpignan. The setting was just amazing.

  • The frame but also a high level of play ...

I wish to thank the players for their professionalism on and off the pitch. They participated in making this event a great success. The level of play was particularly high. We had an ideal final with a French pair Ferrandez / Gourre who may have surprised his world by beating the Franco-Spanish pair Carité / Lara Salines. But the march seemed a little too high in the final against the Hispano-Argentine pair, Juan Restivo / Oscar Vazquez.

Coronation of Restivo / Vazquez at the French Open of Padel Perpignan

The city of Perpignan is part of the success of the event. She did a great job. The same goes for all the teams around me. Our partner Mutuelle du Rempart allowed us all to make this event. The quality of the pitch and the treatment of the surface were praised by all the players. Our friends from the Mas, headed by Alain Henry, put on a superb performance. And of course, hats off to the director of the French Open, André Lafenêtre, who once again amazed us.

We are ready to leave next year.

  • Hubert Picquier in a recent interview explained to us the cordial relations that you maintained. The start of a merger between the FFT and the French Open of padel ?

There was a very constructive meeting with the elected representative of the French Tennis Federation in charge of padel, Hubert Picquier. A meeting of several hours between representatives of the circuit of padel Occitanie, myself, the owner of the Open de France brand of Padel and finally Hubert Picquier.

We can already say: It was a very positive discussion. We realized, mutually, that we were in harmony on almost every subject. padel from the moment. We have therefore decided to meet regularly before making a decision on a possible merger.

This is why, during the French Open of Padel in Toulouse next September, we invited the President of the FFT, Bernard Giudicelli, Hubert Picquier and Stéphane Berrafato, the manager in charge of padel for the FFT.

Many things can happen in 2020.

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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