Padel Magazine - At the beginning of December 2013, while in Serbia as a commentator for the handball world championships, Valérie Nicolas, goalkeeper of the France team for more than 10 years and world champion with France in 2003, appointed best player and goalkeeper of the world in 2003 and best goalkeeper of the world in 2007, honors Padel Magazine to answer our questions about padel and her impressions of the sport she enjoys so much.

Padel Magazine (PM) - When and how did you discover the padel? How often do you play and where?

Valérie Nicolas (VN) - In 2012 at Jean Noel Grinda (Editor's note: president of the FF Padel) in Nice. I can play 1-2 once in a week when my job allows it.

PM - What do you like about padel?

VN - It plays fast on a small space by team of 2, The anticipation of blows. It's fun, easy to understand.

Even beat on the fly, the shot is not over because the ball comes back into play with the window or grid

PM - Are you more of a right or left player on the court?

VN - I play most often on the right

PM - Does your experience / qualities as a handball goalkeeper help you to padel?

VN - Yes, a little in terms of placements and reading trajectories and I'm not afraid to be turned on! lol

PM - What are your strengths at padel? What do you find most difficult in this sport?

VN - I listen to my partner. I don't really have any strong points but I try not to have big weak points either even if the strong smashes to get the ball off the court are difficult for me.

PM - Have you ever attended padel of the professional circuit in Spain? (World Padel Tour)

VN - No, but I should like it.

PM - As you know padel is very developed in Spain with nearly 4 million practitioners. Do you think the padel could experience the same success one day in France?

VN - I hope so. It will take a little time and motivated people but it should take.

PM - If you had to define the padel in a few words ?

VN - playful and tactical.

Interview by Kristina Clément - Padel Magazine

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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