On the occasion of P1500 from Bandol, Frédéric, president of the Bandol club, looks back on his 10 years at the head of the club, the challenges encountered and the major developments. It evokes the rise of padel who attracts more and more spectators, much more than tennis, and shares his thoughts on this phenomenon.

A decade of presidency at the Bandol club

“I have been president of the Bandol club for 10 years. At the time, the former president, who was a friend, decided to hand over. There weren't many volunteers to take over the club, so I embarked on the adventure with two friends. Running a sports association like a tennis club takes time and commitment, and we were up for the challenge.

Frederic Donne

At the time, the Bandol club had eight tennis courts and a player population of between 300 and 350 members. The situation was stable, but the club lacked a little dynamism. In 2019, on the advice of young club players who had discovered the padel, we decided to embark on this new adventure. We started by building two tracks of padel in spring 2019. Then, in 2022, we added two more tracks, bringing the total to four. In spring 2023, we further expanded the facilities with three new tracks. Today, the club has six tennis courts and seven tennis courts. padel, and we have about 850 members.”

A spectacle that seduces more than tennis

“It’s true that we have difficulty attracting audiences for tennis matches, and I don’t really have an explanation for that. On the other hand, for tournaments padel, we regularly have several dozen people around the slopes. It's a striking difference, and we'd like to see the same turnout for tennis.

Perhaps tennis tournament formats need to be rethought. There are tennis tournaments over one or two days, such as Multichance Tournaments, which allow players to play several matches in one weekend. But, at least for us, that doesn't seem to be enough to attract viewers.

Hanouna/Leygue P1500 Bandol

For a tournament padel like this, what attracts spectators, I think it is surely the format of the matches, the sport itself and surely also the effect of novelty. THE padel offers a real spectacle, especially with the level of play we have this weekend. The rallies are spectacular, with fast volleys, balls that go out of bounds, and an intensity that captures the audience's attention.

Le padel has been enriched by incorporating elements from other racquet sports such as tennis and squash, making it a perfect blend of these disciplines. This surely contributes to its success and its appeal to spectators.”

The next steps

“Next week we host the final phase of the National Youth Tournament. It will be a spectacular event with promising young talents. This weekend, we have already been able to see some very high level matches.

Then, from August 21 to 25, we will organize the FIP Rise in Bandol. The tournament will begin on the seven tracks of our club. From the quarter-finals onwards, the men's and women's matches will take place on a temporary pitch installed on the port of Bandol, near the yachts. It promises to be an event with a great show and great photos to take.” 

Dorian Massy

New follower of padel, I am fascinated by this dynamic sport which combines strategy and agility. I find in the padel a new passion to explore and share with you on Padel Magazine.

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