At the P2000 of the Impact Stadium, Hugo Cazaban, a name still unknown on the padel scene, reveals himself. A former good tennis player, he shares his transition to padel and his early ambitions for 2025.

A career marked by tennis
Hugo Cazaban, a promising padel player, looks back on his beginnings in this sport:
"I played tennis until I reached the -4/6 ranking. I discovered padel 5-6 years ago, but it was really occasional. In the meantime, I went to the United States for my studies while continuing to play tennis."

Settled in Miami for a master's degree at university, Hugo played padel very little: "I must have played twice in two years. Padel is still not very developed in the United States, and playing there is expensive."

A more serious commitment since 2022
Back in France in 2022, Hugo is getting more involved in padel: "I've been playing intensely for a little over a year now. I train in Toulouse, notably with Baptiste Beneteau and Léa Godallier. I regularly play 4Padel and in Toulouse Padel Club. »

His progress is rapid thanks to the experience of his partners and opponents: "Playing with high-level players has allowed me to better understand the game and improve my skills."

A revelation in Perpignan
Hugo stood out during the Central tournament Padel from Perpignan, reaching an unexpected final alongside Benjamin Dufour. "It was the first time we played together. We grew in strength throughout the tournament, despite a physically demanding final."

He remembers an epic match in the semi-final: "There was incredible intensity. We even took a set in the final against players from the French team. This shows that it is accessible, even against the best."

An offensive style of play to perfect
Hugo recognizes his strengths and weaknesses: "My game is offensive, with a good quality of volley, inherited from tennis. On the other hand, my defense is still insufficient for this level. I must work on this aspect while maintaining my strong points up front."

Objectives for 2025: progress and consistency
For this new season, Hugo aims to fully invest himself: "With Benjamin Dufour, we will play the P1500 and P2000, like Bordeaux and Lyon. The objective is to integrate the French top 60 and to progress regularly."

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.