Training with world number 1, Agustín Tapia, left its mark on the two young French players, Timéo Fonteny and Yoan Boronad. It was a unique opportunity for the two athletes to compete against the best padel player in the world in a rather unusual setting, at the Nox Academy in Padel Indoor Mataro: 2-on-1 training.

An intense workout

According to Timéo Fonteny, this experience was far from ordinary. “It was the first time we trained with him,” he explains. “We didn’t play a match, but we did a 2-on-1 practice, with him alone against the two of us. We played two sets of 10 points with Yoan and I at the net and Agustín on defense. He won both sets without difficulty. Then we switched roles and it was his turn to come to the net and us on defense. Again, he won very easily.”

Fonteny and Boronad face Tapia: a training session like no other at the Nox Academy

Striking differences

Playing with the world number 1 revealed glaring differences in skill levels between Timéo and Yoan. “The differences are so enormous that it's difficult to describe,” Timéo confides. “What shocked me most was that no matter the situation on the pitch, Agustín can play in every zone, at every speed. You never know where he's going to play because he can do everything. You really have to experience it to understand what it feels like.”

Increased motivation

One of the most significant lessons from this experience for the two French players was the realization of the gap that still separates them from the top of world padel. “We're still a long way from him,” admits Timéo. “We realized it even more when we found ourselves facing him, but it motivates us even more to work hard to improve.”

“It’s a real driving force to go further and work tirelessly,” concludes Timéo.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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