In the aftermath of world padel in Paraguay, Hubert Picquier, the elected official in charge of padel looks back on the exceptional adventure of the French team, ladies and gentlemen, but also on the role that the FFT must take on the international stage.

1 / France shines in the world

The result of our teams in France is incredible. Who would have bet that the boys end up in the 4 best nations of the world, which would have bet that the girls finish 5e at one foot of this semifinal. The President of the FFT (Bernard Giudicelli) and the entire Executive Committee join me in congratulating the exceptional journey of our French and our French but especially the state of mind, the joy of wearing this jersey of the team of France and that's what allowed to have such impressive results.

2 / FFT Strategy with FIP

The strategy is simple, it is to be present. There is an ambitious strategy that is taking place at the level of France but it was unthinkable that the French Federation is not present in international forums. France decides to participate actively and for that to certainly return to the board of the International Federation.

3 / The FFT behind Luigi Carraro

He is a unifier. he is someone who knows how to listen, who has the will not to put tennis in opposition to padel. he is ready to receive the support of France in international bodies

4 / Has the FIP presented a program?

At the meeting of the general assembly no since these are the campaign programs. Things will have to fall into place, for Luigi Carraro to build his board, his team, and refine his program. He has heard for many months about the actions that are being implemented at the level of France, he will be guided with regard to this policy. We had met Luigi before the general assembly, we had informed him of our remarks, the strategic points which seemed to us to be strong and during his intervention at the GA he totally took into account the remarks of France.

5 / Orientation of FIP with its members

Luigi Carraro's program is more focused on bringing people together, to ensure that the padel at the international level adapts to the context of each country but also to global enthusiasm. Today it was unthinkable, in our eyes, that a formatted model be presented. So we need time to build this board, to understand the problems of each nation. As we can see today, the world championships must be a different organization, which does not deprive our Paraguayan friends of the merit. But the storms, the postponed finals, the playing conditions… the FIP will have to be able to work on all this part of development, competition, refereeing, training etc. It is a very ambitious project.

6 / ITF and FIP, merge them?

This is a false problem. Today they are two disciplines with two different entities, two different cultures. The padel is a community, there is a history, tennis has its history, maybe one day the two disciplines will be reunited but today it is not the priority. There should be no competition between the FIP and the ITF. The FIP went through difficult passages and was weakened. When I said beforehand that Luigi has the will to bring together, and he will approach the ITF in due course and know how to discuss and I don't think he is looking for a rivalry on the contrary.

7 / Has the world made the FFT evolve?

In the 4 pillars of the strategy of the FFT there is a pillar that concerns the high level, of course the team of France and that confirms me in all the analysis that we could do when we see the results and the how they reached them and I am extremely proud. The president and the executive committee sent me messages of support regarding the results of the French but also I transmitted them videos of the team of France, the joy of sharing, to wear this jersey and that it does not has no price.

Interview by Franck Binisti
Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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