President of the European Association of Clubs Padel (AECP)  and founding president of the  French Federation of Padel from 1992 to 2003 ,  Claude Baigts  is one of the pioneers of padel in France. Since the creation of the French Association of Padel From the late 80s until the first major international competitions organized in France, he accompanied the emergence and structuring of the sport.

Present at  Renard Theatre in Paris  for the second edition of  Assizes of the Padel He opened the discussions with a topic that is particularly close to his heart:  the history of padel For him, understanding the origins of the discipline is essential to avoid certain mistakes during a period of extremely rapid growth.

A privileged witness to the beginnings of padel in France

Claude Baigts discovered padel in the late 80s, after an already rich career in tennis and the organization of sporting events.

"I got into padel in 1987. But the real structuring in France began with the French Padel Federation in 1992."

At that time, the sport was still relatively unknown. Everything had to be built from the ground up: competitions, infrastructure, and club networks. Baigts actively participated in this initial organizational phase, before padel took a new turn with its integration into the  French Tennis Federation in 2014 .

Claude Baigts: “Before the wave, there were the foundations; padel wasn't born in 2020.”

Development varies greatly from country to country

With nearly forty years of hindsight, Claude Baigts observes that padel has developed  at very different rates depending on the country .

Spain and Argentina remain the historical benchmarks, while some European countries are only just beginning to structure their practice.

"In Spain, the development has been gradual. They have built padel schools for children and a real training culture."

This approach largely explains the Spanish and Argentinian dominance on the international circuit.

Teacher training, a key issue

Among the issues that concern Claude Baigts is the  teacher training which he considers still too fragile in the face of the rapid growth in the number of pitches.

"We're opening a lot of clubs and we need instructors very quickly. But you can't make a padel instructor in a few hours."

For him, teaching padel requires a true specialization and cannot be limited to a simple adaptation of tennis.

Spain notably benefited in the 80s and 90s from the arrival of many Argentinian coaches who helped to structure training.

"They started by creating padel schools. Children start very young and progress within a structured system."

Cédric Carité: 34 years of padel and still the same obsession: to better train coaches.

The challenge of French elite

When discussing the international level, Claude Baigts points out that some French players have chosen to go and train in Spain to improve.

"Over there, they train for several hours a day, with a very structured physical, mental, and technical preparation."

According to him, reaching the very highest level requires very early training.

"If you want to compete at a global level, you have to start very young."

Some Spanish academies actually function as true training centers, where young players live immersed in padel for several years.

Preserving the spirit of padel

Beyond the competition, Claude Baigts emphasizes what he believes constitutes the essence of padel:  the social and convivial dimension of the game .

"Two players might argue. With four, there are always two who will go for a drink together after the match."

According to him, this conviviality constitutes one of the major assets of sport and a central element in the success of clubs.

The Assizes of the Padel The meeting of French padel stakeholders makes a stop in Paris

Passing on to the next generation

After several decades of commitment, Claude Baigts now believes that his role is primarily to  pass on his experience .

He is considering, in particular, gradually relinquishing control within the European Association of Clubs Padelso that new players can continue to develop the discipline.

"Today, my main goal is to pass on my knowledge."

A word for Padel Magazine

Before concluding the interview, Claude Baigts wanted to acknowledge the work of  Padel Magazine , whom he considers an important player in the media coverage of sport.

« Padel Magazine It is followed in France, Belgium, but also in Spain and Africa. You have done an extraordinary job.

This recognition also illustrates the perspective of one of the privileged witnesses to the history of padel on  a discipline that continues to write its future 

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Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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