On June 20 and 21, 2026, the  Forest Hill The March of Marnes-la-Coquette  hosted the second edition of  HEAD Padel Paris Tennis , an event combining tennis, padel, exhibition, pro-am tournament and a friendly atmosphere. The event had been announced as a hybrid weekend, between  P500 padel tournament ,  pro-am tennis tournament  et  exhibition matches , featuring several major figures in French sport:  Richard Gasquet, Mansour Bahrami, Paul-Henri Mathieu and Benoît Paire .  

On Saturday, the public was treated to a rare moment of tennis in a relaxed yet spectacular atmosphere. On the court,  Mansour Bahrami  has once again reminded everyone why he remains the one of the greatest showmen  from the history of this sport. Between improbable shots, impressive serves, rallies played with a smile and even a few sung notes in the style of  Frank Sinatra The former French Open doubles finalist brought the crowd to its feet.  laughs  and the  applause .

A truly spectacular moment, where tennis became  almost a scene Bahrami displayed a multitude of moves that only he knows how to make, mixing  technical mastery and improvisation For the public, it's hard not to be swept away by this energy. He, for his part, simply sums up this longevity as a result of enjoyment: "When you love what you do and enjoy doing what you do, it makes things easier."

By his side,  Benoît Paire, Richard Gasquet and Paul-Henri Mathieu  They also fully embraced the concept. Far from being overly serious, the exhibition primarily allowed us to rediscover  champions  always close to the public and a shared desire to share a good time.

 Mansour Bahrami, pleasure as a driving force 

At 68, the Franco-Iranian continues to impress with his   positive  and its  desire intact On the court, he teases, tries things out, improvises, smiles. A presence that commands admiration.

When asked about this form  quite exceptional He explains that it all stems from his relationship with the game: "When I'm on the tennis court, it's the most enjoyable, happiest moment of my life." One sentence that perfectly sums up the spirit of his performance: Bahrami isn't just there to play, he's there to  transmettre .

He also explains his very particular style by his  atypical learning Without formal tennis training, he grew up playing with whatever resources were available: "I used to play with a piece of wood, a shovel, or a frying pan." From there this was born  Instinctive, free, almost childlike tennis which he continues to fully assume: "For me, it was child's play, and it still is."

Two men on a tennis court backdrop; one in lime shirt with a microphone explaining something, the other in white smiling as he listens, a water bottle and towel in hand.

 Padel, a natural playground for former tennis players 

The next day, it was time for padel with a  P500 tournament  who confirmed the other identity of the event. Several celebrities and players were present, including  Thierry Omeyer, Richard Gasquet  for the former champions And Johan Bergeron, Sacha Huard de la Marre, Nathan Perrot and Elsa Pellegrinelli  for padel addicts.

On the courts, the atmosphere was serious without losing the friendly spirit of the weekend. Some participants weren't necessarily padel specialists, but many showed  a real level of play The automatic reflexes of tennis sometimes helped, but the glass walls, positioning, and tactical reading also served as reminders that the  Padel remains a discipline in its own right. .

 Paul-Henri Mathieu who discovered padel several years ago, is not  not really surprised  by its  development For him, the success of sport is explained by its accessibility: "It's a very fun sport, very easy to access, so it appeals to a large audience." He also emphasizes the family dimension, one of the  great strengths  of the discipline: "What appealed to me was the fun aspect, being able to play with my wife, my son, my daughter."

Two men in white converse shirts outdoors on a clay tennis court, one holding a microphone to the other as he speaks.

 Benoît Paire: " For me, it's really just a hobby. » 

He has been very present on the padel courts in recent months,  Benoît Pair  However, it maintains a very clear approach: padel remains first and foremost a  fun For him, there was no question of embarking on a competitive career change.

"For me, it's really just a hobby. I don't want to be a professional padel player, I don't want to dedicate myself to it completely." However, the former world number 18 admits it: when he finds  partners of his level He's having a lot of fun.

Paire also follows professional padel from time to time, especially during major matches. He had even attended a tournament in Marseille.  an experience that left a mark on him  : "It's very spectacular. Even more so than on TV, I think it's much more impactful live."

What impresses him the most?  Defense Like many players who come from a tennis background, Paire admits to having initially underestimated the complexity of the glass walls and reading the bounces: "When you arrive on a padel court, you realize that, depending on the balls you're facing, it's very difficult to defend."

Two men stand on a padel court with rackets, ready for play, standing near a glass enclosure on a sunny day

 A successful bridge between tennis and padel 

Ultimately, this is what makes HEAD successful. Padel Tennis Paris: its ability to bring together two similar, yet very different, worlds. Tennis brings its  legends and its history Padel adds its conviviality, its accessibility, and this collective dimension which  pleases as much  to former champions as well as amateurs.

Paul-Henri Mathieu puts it very simply: padel allows you to "To have fun, get some physical exercise, and spend a good time with friends or family." Benoît Paire, for his part, sees it primarily as a spectacular discipline, the real difficulty of which appears as soon as one enters the track.

For two days, Forest Hill Marnes-la-Coquette lived to the rhythm of exchanges, laughter, exhibitions, and closely contested matches. With  Richard Gasquet  Present at both events, this second edition confirmed HEAD's positioning Padel Tennis Paris: an event at the crossroads of sport, entertainment and sharing.

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