Jessica Ginier, the French Champion of padel in title with his partner Alix Collombon looks back on his news padel in France. While more and more players are trying the adventure in Spain, “Jess” is fully involved in France and in her club: Le Tennis Club Lyonnais where she is the referent padel of the club.

  • You've moved around a lot in tennis. Do the same in the padel, doesn't that tempt you?

For the moment, it is not easy at all because I work at the Tennis Club de Lyon and am very involved in the padel.

It is true that in tennis, my best ranking was number 27 in France. I played a lot on the international tennis circuit to try to make it my job but the financial pressure, the injuries and the difficulty made that I stopped at 20 years old to retrain myself in teaching.

But I don't feel ready to start all over again padel in Spain. I like padel and I take a lot of pleasure but my job as a tennis teacher gives me a lot too and my life remains in Lyon. And then it takes a few French players who stay in France anyway, right? (To laugh)

On the other hand, I am delighted to see the girls going on more and more adventures on the professional circuit. With Laura, Alix and now Mélissa Martin and Léa Godallier who carry out some stages of the World Padel Tour, we can see that the padel women in France is also becoming more professional.

  • You certainly find tennis sensations at the padel therefore ?

Playing tennis has helped me immensely in padel. I played a lot in doubles with Alix and I liked the net game so at padel the fly is very important. And so logically we find certain tennis bases in the padel. And we realize that in the top French ladies and gentlemen, it is above all former or very good tennis players that we see at the forefront.

Even if for the moment, in Spain, with the men, this does not materialize in result, we see that among the girls, with Laura Clergue and Alix, they are able to hang the main paintings of the World Padel Tour, and even with ambitions to go further. And it was done in just a few months / years.

We have the right to hope for the best for them.

  • A good thing for the padel feminine ?

The girls are leaving more and more in Spain and I am very happy because these starts will pull all the other players up and will increase the level. But yes, if, a little like the men, we end up with the top 5 for example who goes to play in Spain, the general level at competitions in France will decline while paradoxically, the level of the best French players will increase.

But there are still many good players in France. And the level increases unquestionably.

  • A regular partner when Alix is ​​not here?

I don't have a regular partner in Lyon, I train most of the time with boys. I don't have a fixed partner when Alix is ​​not present at the tournaments. I play with the players who want me. (to laugh)

My training program I don't really have, I play games most of the time, I try to play twice a week, and when it comes to adjusting sessions I ask my trainer Arnaud Taboni. We play in my club at TCL or at Esprit Padel. -

More generally, as during the first P1000 ladies tournament of the year in Beausoleil, I see that the level is increasing. There may be surprises, very good pairs are formed. All players in general are going to be dangerous. The padel female is developing more and more with exceptionally female tournaments. We can't ask for anything more! Like the big tournament organized in Cannes where it will be incredible.

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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