The French champion of padel in title, Johan Bergeron looks back on his very rich news in France and internationally. Our French bet a lot on the professional circuit and pass the course of the world top 100.

Between physical preparation, courses of padel that he offers in Barcelona and his training padel, “Jo” takes stock of 2019 and his choices for 2020.

  • In 2019, we can say that it was a great year…

Absolutely. A very good year, especially this second semester where we were able with Bastien Blanqué to retain our title of French champion of padel. And then, there were these 2 great victories on the circuit of the International Federation of Padel in Angers and Dubai with Jérémy Scatena.

Competition is very important. It is difficult to imagine how difficult it is. In France, to retain its title, it was necessary to tap into the reserves. We have more and more very good French players. The relatively easy first laps are over. Today, the best French players are almost all in Spain.

On the circuit of World Padel Tour or on the FIP circuit, it comes from all over the world. And the Spaniards or Argentinians play very well and are numerous.

However, with Jérémy Scatena, we had some very good matches and above all very positive results. Apart from the Mijas Open, we haven't lost once to players below the top 80.

In the end, I finished in 119th place in the world and with goals for 2020.

In France, since March / April 2019, we are the French number ones with Bastien. We lost 3 games in France. And in 3 years, we lose less than 10 games. It is an exceptional performance.

  • Exactly. We remember your words at the end of 2019… And we were anticipating a future collaboration in 2020.

The fact of not playing with Jérémy Scatena in 2020, it was decided on a few details in our approach to participate in competitions in 2020. The discussion was very advanced. But, there were some details related to the competitions where we were not in phase.

And then on his side, there was movement. For Jérémy, Benjamin Tison came to play in Barcelona. Suddenly, there was also a certain logic in seeing them play together.

  • With whom will you play on the circuit of World Padel Tour ?

For my part, I have this great opportunity to play with a very good Spanish player: Javier Lopez Garcia. A hard hitting left player. We played it with Scat in the Dubai FIP semi-final.

Today, he has no points, but he is known on the circuit. And I made the choice not to bet on the number of points that my partner has, but on the potential of the pair. It's quite rare on the circuit, where in general, the players find their partner according to the number of points that we have.

I also join the words of Juani Mieres.

 Javier Lopez Garcia lives in Dubai. And he is ready to make the necessary round trips from Dubai to come and play the stages of the World Padel Tour.

We will start with the pre-qualifiers. But we hope to see results very quickly and be seeded in the pre-previas afterwards.

We have a goal with Javier: To reach the world top 100.

With Javier we intend to do some FIPs together.

  • Sometimes we talk about the future of our French people. Will they stay long in Spain...

Life for foreigners in Spain who try the adventure on the circuit of World Padel Tour is not obvious.

First, you have to be passionate. And then you need the help of sponsors. Otherwise, we cannot follow. I would like to highlight my partners: the FFT, Head, All in Academy, Leclerc Voyages, Leclerc Vannes, Rouffiac, Orangina, Slamcourt, Padel Magazine and the Tennis Club Dardilly Champagne. All partners have been renewed. And it is a great joy for me.

The financial aspect is very important. You need to raise more than €35.000 to play on the professional circuit. If tomorrow the partners / sponsors do not follow us. We will not be able to continue the adventure on the World Padel Tour.

  • Are you already thinking about the post-professional career?

Of course. I have many projects. First maybe to stay in Spain. I also have opportunities to open a club of padel in France, an academy of padel and the possibility of developing and promoting the padel In France. THE padel it's my life. And she won't stop when the World Padel Tour will be behind me.

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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