While the second edition of the International Club Cup Padel is in full swing, the founder of the competition, Claude Baigts, looks back on this very special event in the landscape of padel.

Highlight the amateur part of padel

“After four editions of the European Club Cup, Padel (2017: Place du Capitole in Toulouse, 2018: Casa Padel, 2019: Valencia, 2021: Malaga), 2022 and 2023 saw the birth of the first two editions of the International Club Cup. padel.

Promotion of padel is mainly done through clubs, allowing amateur clubs to compete against each other and providing a window for players, coaches and club managers. The main objective is to highlight the amateur part of the padel, because the focus is often on the world's best players. However, the heart of padel resides in the clubs.”

intercontinental cut of padel 2023

Marrying high level and padel amateur

“The number of participants went from 24 to 16 clubs. Many clubs have participated twice, including in Malaga. Another reason for this reduction is the desire to favor the amateur part of the padel. Some clubs had players who didn't really fit the essence and objectives of this competition. It is indeed complicated to marry the high level and the padel amateur.

However, we welcomed new clubs, notably Romanian clubs. Their number increased from 1 to 3 (Timisoara, Bucharest, Brasov). The competition is more international than ever with, among others, a selection of South American players representing the Solano academy (former top Argentinian player of the 90s). Another excellent news is the loyalty of many clubs to this competition.

We have also a thought for our Estonian friends, who were unable to participate because of the Russo-Ukrainian war."

intercontinental cut of padel 2023

Clubs like professionals

“The clubs appreciate being treated professionally with appropriate regulations and a very competent team of referees, notably Pierre Lamouré and Conchi Serrano from the Spanish federation.

At the press conference in Malaga we mentioned an agreement in principle to stay there, but other offers are also being considered for 2024. Nothing is decided yet.

The idea is to move towards a representation of one country per club, i.e. 24 nations from 5 continents. We are also considering a concept combining sport and culture, including paintings on the theme of padel, art rackets as initiated with Chuzpo, and the possibility for each player to leave with their caricature.

We also want to find sponsors to help reduce costs for clubs.

As for the format of the competition, we could consider three events of padel, like skiing: a men's event, a women's event and a mixed event with three pairs (1 men's pair, 1 women's pair, 1 mixed).”

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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