Jérémy Scatena: "Playing on the right in 2021: an option"

Jérémy Scatena to the right, a crazy idea? Absolutely not. It is even an option that is maturing more and more.

Following our various articles concerning the French transfer window, the professional player of the World Padel Tour and several times French champions of padel wished to return to the upheaval of mentalities in the padel .

Unthinkable yesterday, possible today

“Maybe that was the case a while ago. In any case, we are not going to lie to each other, making me change sides two years ago was not possible. And then there were the last 2 years ... which have changed the padel like never before.

It is true that I have always played on the left. I have a history of playing on the left and have trained, and still train on the left. But you have to know how to evolve and live with the times. I already train right every now and then and I really like it. “

A different tactical approach

“In 2/3 years the padel has evolved very quickly.

The position on the ground becomes essential, it is necessary keep the net at all costs. Which gives new phases of games with:

2/3 chiquitas which follow one another
the bandejas and viboras have been replaced (except during the events in Madrid) by smashes to the grid and species of strollers supported in particular on the side windows.
Relatively fast mid-volleys that don't hit the back glass have become an important weapon for getting short lobs and opening up angles.

The types of blows are changing. But so is the strategy. And maybe even more. We are currently experiencing a real revolution.

We just have to look around us. On the circuit of World Padel Tour, we saw many players of the world top 100, change sides, change the way they play, evolve in the approaches to matches.

Le padel yesterday has nothing to do with today's.

Until then, we were a little formatted: “you play on the left, you will play like that, you will play on the right, you have to play like this.” “

Le padel that we knew no longer exists

“In coaching, we see some who have remained on the padel that they knew and even impose this old vision on new players. I want to say to all these new players: don't worry about what side you want to have, and even more at an amateur level.

If you want to evolve you have to play on both sides and that goes for everyone. And the best players in the world have shown us that perfectly.

Le padel yesterday is no longer that of today. And it is changing so quickly that tomorrow's will no longer be today's.

The cards are completely redistributed. And French players have understood this very well.

Johan Bergeron, the best right-wing player in France, wanted to discover new horizons. I am sure he will succeed on the left.

Le padel, in just 20 months, has evolved enormously. If we do not evolve with him, we are quickly dumped on the professional circuits.

And I'll tell you one thing: I find it exciting to see the sport change so much. “

An upheaval of mentalities

"The padel is in turmoil in the world. Clubs are exploding on all continents, we see many players landing in the padel everyday. And with this boom in padel, we also see a upheaval of mentalities among the best players in the world of padel.

Anyway, that's my opinion. Have we ever seen the best players in the world change sides during a whole season, and in such a normal / frequent way?

Examples will obviously be found in the past. But it is this mass, this regularity that there is to see everyone change that is astonishing and fascinating in the padel. "

The days of “let the ball go” are over.

“Did we see such explosive and offensive right-wingers 10 years ago?

The time of “padel defensive ”is over. I think it's due to these new players from padel who wanted take the ball as soon as possible, try to save time on the opponent.

In my opinion, the padel today requires perhaps even more reflexes than before and especially a more advanced attacking game. The competition among the men is very important and we now see players from all over the world arriving and playing very well.

Obviously, don't caricature my words. I'm talking about this vision, always faster, always more on the fly, with optimal physical condition. But as in all sports, there is room for everyone and we find in the padel atypical or old-fashioned games which sometimes thwart the very best. ”

In 2021, I do not refrain from passing to the right

“I want to stay perfectly in tune with what I said.

In 2021, if I am obviously very much on the left, I do not forbid myself to launch myself on the right. I already play it in practice matches. So it's not that new.

And even why not use a game strategy that we have seen many times on the pro circuit in 2020: that of confuse the issue, sometimes playing right or left depending on the opponents, the game strategy and the forms of the moment.

For now I have several tracks in 2021 in France. Some on the left, some on the right. What is certain: I feel perfectly ready to go play on the right and fight with my future partner for the French championships of padel 2021! ”

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.