Greenweez Paris Major 2024: wild card choices that are controversial?

We now know the players and pairs who will benefit from the wild cards for the Greenweez Paris Major 2024. Unsurprisingly, French players will take full advantage of this event, which offers them the opportunity to win points precious.

Have a Major in France is an invaluable opportunity for French players, as it allows them to score points that are often difficult to obtain on the FIP Tour.

The FFT, and in particular Arnaud Di Pasquale, Eric Largeron, Benjamin Tison, Pablo Ayma et Robin Haziza, had to think long and hard before making choices which, whatever happens, cannot satisfy everyone.

GPM 2024: the wild cards finally revealed!

In the ladies' category, no real surprises and Phaysouphanh / Ligi remains on the floor

At the Women, there are no real surprises. Yesterday, we already announced our prediction, with a Jessica Ginier / Carla Touly who receives a nice reward by winning a wild card for the main draw, while they were already assured of playing the qualifications.

The list of pairs present at the Greenweez Paris Majors 2024 are…

The question arose regarding the second wild card : who of Camille Sireix / Louise Bahurel ou Lucile Pothier / Charlotte Soubrié would get it? Camille Sireix plays more on the FIP Tour which Pothier / Soubrié, a Louise Bahurel is a very promising young player for the FFT. However, the FFT decided that the pair Soubrié / Pothier deserved this ticket to the main draw more, to represent France. The pair that must be the most disappointed is undoubtedly Fiona Ligi / Tiffany Phaysouphanh. With three wild cards to distribute and three French pairs waiting, they could hope, but the choice to grant a place to Ginier / Touly in the main table excluded Ligi / Phaysouphanh GPM qualifications.

The 3 pairs that include French in the main draw

At the gentlemen, the decision was much more complex for the FFT commission.

There were in total six wild cards to distribute, and the FFT could have chosen to include a maximum of French pairs in this GPM. But she opted for another strategy by granting Leygue / Piotto et Guichard / Geens a wild card for the main draw, although they had already qualified for the qualifications. Both of these pairs could have been seeded in their part of the qualifying draw, with a real chance of making it to the main draw. FFT preferred to ensure a place for these two pairs, but paradoxically, in this new position, it is not always the best option (according to the draw). Consequence: on the six wild cards, two were awarded to already qualified pairs. And even three…

To Blanqué / Bergeron, the elders, in 27th position in qualifications, it was better to offer them a wild card for the main draw, as they were likely to face seeded teams. As for Joris / Vanbauce, the French pair who made the best progress of the year, the FFT commission has rightly rewarded them, especially since these points are precious to them after the GPM.

Soldier Manu Vives will be the talk of the town...

En qualifications, unsurprisingly, the young pair Boronad / Fonteny, currently in very good shape (despite some physical problems), obtains a precious sesame to play Roland Garros. The last wild card must have been difficult to attribute for the French Tennis FederationSeveral pairs could claim this place, notably the Franco-Spanish pair. Live / Arija, in 7th position on the waiting list, with good results these last 3 results. But finally, the FFT chose the French pair Maigret / Inzerillo, although 10th on the waiting list and with complicated results on the FIP Tour. Adrien Maigret, who said he had been less involved recently, and Jerome Inzerillo, lacking form, still received this wild card. Their status as former contributors to the French team probably weighed in the decision, as a gesture of recognition for everything they have brought to the international scene. And obviously, the fact that it is a 100% French pair must have played a role. They are very dangerous players, even more so during major events. They have always demonstrated this in the past. The French pair has pride, and there is no doubt that they are already in warrior mode to prove that the FFT was right to bet on them.

The big loser is undoubtedly Manu Vives (And Eneko Arija), who does not get this chance to participate in the GPM This year. Vives, who is still aiming for a place in the French team, could he see this failure to obtain a WC as an obstacle to a future call-up to the French team for the next world championships?

Julien Seurin / Max Moreau, thanks to the game of wild cards, gets his ticket for the qualifications du GPM, being in first position on the waiting list.

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.