Laura Clergue is the first French player of  padel to have embarked on the Spanish roads of World Padel Tour, the professional circuit of padel. Sensitive, courageous and ambitious, Laura lives her passion to the full and has shown it by putting aside her career as an engineer.

The young player from Aix is ​​currently the 45e world player, 8e Madrid player, France champion 2016 and 2017 and vice-champion of France in 2018 with her partner Audrey Casanova.

She lives today in Madrid. Portrait

  • Tell us about your beginnings at padel...

In 2014, I discovered the padel with my brother Aurélien at the Set Club of Aix (Editor's note. The club no longer exists). And luck smiles on me, since I come face to face with my future friend and partner Audrey Casanova.

At the time, she was the only girl who wanted to get involved in the padel.

We immediately hooked, and we started training every night at the Set. She was particularly courageous to play with me when I was starting out. I was playing on the right at the time and she on the left.

My debut with the windows was complicated. Can not understand how it worked!

Today we laugh with Audrey ... What a journey with Audrey since our beginnings together!

Thank you to Audrey for having invested on me, I hope I can sometimes return the favor now!

  • When you are passionate, do you do everything thoroughly?

That's it. Moreover, in tennis, it was the same thing. 

I play tennis since I was very young (At the Bouc Bel Air tennis club). I trained intensively until the end of college. I even thought of stopping school to devote myself fully to it. I have been several times champion of Provence.

But my parents said "Out of the question, studies first".

As I grew older I started to be more aware… I was afraid of losing. I felt alone on the pitch. During my high school and prep years I trained a lot less.

  • But you still left the front to tennis?

I took the competition in engineering school, during which I went back to 4 / 6.

I have always loved the volley and the double, from a young age. What serves me today in the field of padel.

  • Since your beginnings at padel, more tennis?

No, I really devoted myself 100% to padel. But I replayed recently ... And I do not tell you the shame. I am more convinced every day, the padel it's much more fun!

  • We can say that you really experienced the boom in padel...

The difference is incredible. I am a competitor at heart. As soon as I started playing a little padel, I wanted to do tournaments with Audrey. But there were very few ...

Now every weekend, I have the impression that French players must make choices between several tournaments of a good level. 

And do not talk about the lands that grow like mushrooms!

Nice to see that people don't talk to me about paddling anymore when I talk about padel also.

  • Tell us about a day of padel from Laura to Madrid?

My training program is the same almost every day:

  • Physical training from 9h to 10h30
  • Training padel from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with Gaby.

And session of padel as soon as I can in the afternoon like a practice match.

Added to this are the sessions of physiotherapists, sports psychologist, nutritionist, etc.

It's physical and challenging but I like this life. Especially after working 4 years sitting at a desk in front of a computer. 

  • Your favorite shots? Your favorite position?

I feel more comfortable in attack, I like the aerial game and the descents of glass.

I always had difficulties with the defense but now I find a lot of pleasure.

This is really what my training in Spain is super beneficial to me.

For my favorite position, we always talk about padel reassure me ? 😉 Of course, a pure and hard left-wing player!

  • Precisely, the French championships of padel 2018 will be without you. Why ?

Indeed, unfortunately I will not be able to play the French championships this year!

I had planned to play them with Audrey but the French championship is not compatible with my World schedule Padel  round, which represents my priority one at the moment.

In order not to block Audrey, and to be able to participate, I told her as soon as possible that I will not be partying so she can get organized (Audrey will play with Mai Vo).

I believe in her and would be part of her remote fan club for these championships of France 🙂

  • Your blow of mouth 

A bit of a shame that the French championships fall one week from a World Padel Tour. I do not claim to necessarily arrive in the 1/8 final in this tournament, but if it happens again, I would have seen myself obliged to abandon my teammate at the last moment, something that I do not I absolutely don't want to deal with a player and even less with Audrey. 

  • Your heavier secret?

I am secretly in love with Bela but shhh !! 😉

  • Do you see yourself making a long career on the pro circuit?

I do not know what will happen in a year and even less in 5.

But I know that today I have the opportunity to live from my passion and as long as I will continue.

I absolutely do not miss my work as an engineer. Opportunities are opening up and will open up to me but today I want to focus on my professional career, while keeping an eye open on what is happening around, and especially around the padel.

I believe that my future is in this sport, first as a player as much time as I can and in what follows, the future will tell.

I am happy in Spain and I try to build my life little by little, I intend to get there!

  • A French 100 pair at the wpt with Alix, possible? 

Ahah, I was not expecting this question at all!

For now it is not in our plans, but maybe our paths will cross again one day on the same part of the field this time, who knows!

Interview by Franck Binisti

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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