Jean-Thomas Peyrou: “French padel must keep its identity and the Big Padel is a good example of success”

The Big Padel Bordeaux created a “little surprise” by reaching the final of the 2025 French interclub championships at 4PADEL Strasbourg. Jean-Thomas Peyrou, founder of the Jet Academy and emblematic figure of the Big Padel Bordeaux, looks back on this performance, the evolution of padel in France and the challenges of the professional circuit.

An almost unexpected finale

At the beginning, we were seeded 2 thanks to our French players who were well ranked on the circuit. But on paper, we weren't necessarily favourites. Some teams had strengthened their squad with many Spanish players. We're thinking in particular of Home Padel et All In Padel Sports, who lined up formidable players.

As the matches went by, our team was able to respond. We beat the little guy Lodges at the start of the competition, then the level went up a notch where we won a big duel against La Bandeja Périgueux. In the semi-finals we faced Home Padel, an intense match where Maxime Joris and Luis Hernandez Quesada performed tremendously against Semmler and Zapata.

In the final we challenged the Sète Padel Club. Thomas Vanbauce and Simon Wagner won their match, but Nicolas Rouanet and Clément Geens lost in two tie-breaks against Garcia and SolbesWe didn't get the victory, but the experience was exceptional.

A preserved club identity

We have a long-term vision. The Big Padel is above all an academy. I have been training around ten young people for several years and our goal is to develop our own talents. Certainly, we have recruited Luis Hernandez Quesada et Clement Geens, but they have integrated our dynamic, come to train with us and actively participate in the life of the club.

I don't criticize the clubs that bring in Spaniards, but we want to keep a strong identity and give our academy players a chance. I believe this strengthens team spirit and the pride of wearing our colours.

The rise of padel in France and the challenges of the circuit

Padel is booming, but we are reaching a turning point. Premier Padel wanted to professionalize the circuit, but some recent changes, such as the reduction in the number of players in tournaments, are causing tensions. Players of the world top 20 have even boycotted some tournaments in response to the new rules.

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On the other hand, parallel circuits emerge, such as A1 Padel which is making its mark and attracting players with attractive financial offers. The problem is that there is also many other tournaments, exhibitions, secondary circuits, and this can impact the health of players.

There is a paradox between what some players say and what they do.

There is a paradox. Some players complain about an overloaded schedule, but at the same time, they chain together lucrative exhibitions. Between tournaments Premier Padel, World Padel League, Hexagon Cup, Reserve Cup, trips to the USA, Europe, Asia, not to mention other sponsored events, it becomes physically and mentally difficult.

The ideal would be to better distribute the competitions and to avoid the circuit becoming a cash factory where only the players of top 10 manage to live well. Today, even a 40th in the world as Luis Hernandez Quesada is struggling to make its season profitable, which is absurd for a sport that is becoming professional.

Jean-Thomas Peyrou: "French padel must keep its identity and the Big Padel is a good example of success"

Coach training: a new challenge

The idea of structuring coach training is good, especially in countries where padel is still developing. But impose certification and restricting access to the bench is problematic.

A player should be able to freely choose your coach, whether he is a padel coach, mental trainer or even a tactical specialist. In some cases, mental support is more important than the purely technical aspect. Restricting access to the bench to those who have a diploma validated by the FIP seems to me to be a bad approach. For the moment, we know very little about what the FIP is going to put in place, we will have to be patient and observe what happens.

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The future of French padel

Today, in France, Blanqué and Leygue remain the favorites. They are strong and experienced, and even if they can lose a match on a misunderstanding, out of ten matches, they win nine.

Behind, several players are pushing, notably Dylan Guichard and Manuel Vives, Thomas Vanbauce and Maxime Joris, or Julien Seurin and Max Moreau. For the ladies, Alix Collombon and Léa Godallier remain a notch above. And I forget a lot among the men mainly, because the competition is very tough.

The future of French padel will also depend on young people. Lucas Pillon, a player I coach, is an example. He has talent, seriousness, and will soon reveal himself.

The question of TFP padel

The blocking by France Compétences to make the TFP padel recognized is a scandal. The TFP is vital for the development of padel in France. There is a serious lack of qualified teachers, and many clubs are waiting. Young people have even left their jobs to follow this training, and today, everything is blocked because of an administrative decision.

France Compétences blocks TFP training Padel : consequences for students and clubs

I hope that the situation will be resolved quickly, because if not, It is the entire ecosystem of French padel that risks suffering from it.

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.