Jerzy Janowicz, former ATP world number 13 and 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist, competes in the European games at home in Poland, in Krakow. The Pole now represents his country in a racket sport other than tennis and himself describes padel as “the sport of its renaissance”. Today, Jerzy Janowicz enters the draw accompanied by Marcin Maszczyk. They will face Benjamin Chavanis and Nicolas Fedoroff. They are in the lower part of the draw, in that of the French team Leygue/Scatena.

 A booming sport in Poland 

The 2m03 tall server played his last tennis match last September, at his “home” Challenger in Szczecin. Since then, he has swapped his tennis rackets for padel rackets. And once again, it is at home that he is embarking on the adventure of the European Games in Krakow. The city’s main square has been converted to host this major event. In Poland, padel is growing to such an extent that another tennis champion, Agnieszka Radwanska, has taken up the “pala”. Similarly, famous former footballers such as Tomasz Kłos or Marcin Żewłakow, both ranked nationally, have also chosen padel. However, Janowicz, with his experience in tennis, is one of the players to follow with great curiosity, thus taking the same path as the Italian Roberta Vinci, who began a second career in padel.

 Far from physical worries 

Injuries, especially those to his knees, which he had operated on several times, have been a handicap throughout his career, including his last season. “This is my rebirth after so many injuries. Padel is very different from tennis, and the earnings are also different (laughs, ed.), but with padel I can play, have fun and pursue goals without fearing for my body. At this stage of my life, padel is very important and fun to play, it is the complete opposite of what tennis has meant to me in recent years. I started to hate it because of the many physical problems I had. Now, with padel, you see it, don't you? I am smiling again,” says the Pole happily.

Accustomed to Davis Cup matches, Janowicz also won a tournament in Tychy earlier this year. He was partnered by his compatriot Marcin Maszczyk, who will also be his partner at these European Games. The player explains: “Last November I did some training with Spanish professional padel players in Alicante, and I will go back in a few weeks to work hard with them. I have kept many shots from tennis, and the only way to change my way of playing is to train.” Janowicz will compete in the men's doubles and mixed doubles events: with his two meters of power and talent, he will try to bring a medal back to Poland.

Source: FIP

thomas jay

After being rocked by tennis for almost 15 years, I became an absolute fan of its cousin, padel. For almost a year now, it is with another racket that I have been chasing the little yellow ball but with just as much passion! Based in Lyon, I intend to make you more aware of padel in the region and at the national level.

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