After turning the page on her association with Giorgia Marchetti, Léa Godallier opens a new chapter alongside Argentina   Daiara   Valenzuela. Despite a first-round defeat at Betclic Bordeaux Premier Padel P2, confidence is back after a FIP Silver title in Narbonne. The Frenchwoman reflects on this new collaboration, her balance between career and family life, and the controversy surrounding the scheduling choices between FIP and Premier Padelbut also his beginnings in Bordeaux, where it all started. Interview. 

"We arrive with confidence, but Bordeaux is another challenge."

 Padel Magazine :  You parted ways with Giorgia Marchetti not so long ago. Bordeaux is only your second tournament with Daiara Valenzuela. What's your mindset going into this new stage?

 Lea Godallier:  We already have a good foundation. We won the FIP Silver in Narbonne together about ten days ago, which was our first tournament. That gives us a lot of confidence.

But Bordeaux is a whole different level. The draw is much tougher, and we're facing Goenaga and Caldera, last year's finalists here, right from the first round. We know them well and have been able to analyze several of their matches.

Above all, we need to separate the Narbonne tournament from this one. The conditions are completely different, even though we're still playing in France. The goal remains to continue learning to play together: me with a game built from the baseline, and Dayara looking to attack the net whenever she has the chance.

Léa Godallier: "Today, you have to be just as strategic off the field as you are on the field." valenzuela

"My son comes first."

 Padel Magazine :  The split with Giorgia Marchetti was partly due to training difficulties. What's different with Dayara?

 Lea Godallier:  Dayara fully understands my situation. She knows that I can't spend a whole week every month in Madrid training.

Giorgia and I discussed it at length and we're still on very good terms. The reason for our separation is simple: she could dedicate a huge amount of time to training, especially since she regularly traveled back and forth between Rome and Madrid. With my son, that's not possible for me.

I'm already away two or three times a month for tournaments. Adding another week away from him would be far too complicated. Dayara and I will find time during the summer break to work together.

 Padel Magazine :  You now travel with your son. Would you like him to follow in your footsteps?

 Lea Godallier:  First and foremost, I would like him to do what he enjoys. To discover different sports.

Later on, if one day he tells me he wants to play padel, knowing that his father is also a padel coach, it will make sense. But I certainly don't want to impose anything on him.

"Today, choosing between a P2 and a FIP is part of the strategy."

 Padel Magazine :  Many players today favor certain FIP tournaments over P2 tournaments in order to maximize their points. What are your thoughts on this situation?

 Lea Godallier:  I completely understand this strategy. I've used it myself.

For example, we chose not to go to the P2 in Asunción to play in a FIP Silver tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Depending on the pairs involved, you can sometimes almost guarantee a place in the final.

Today, the points system allows players to compare the draws of different tournaments and choose the one that offers the best opportunities. It has become a true sporting strategy.

Léa Godallier: "Today, you have to be just as strategic off the field as you are on the field."

"The points system still needs to evolve."

 Padel Magazine :  If the decision were up to you, what would you change?

 Lea Godallier:  The points system needs to continue to evolve.

There have already been some adjustments, but they are still not enough. We had a meeting with the players' association in Rome where several proposals were presented to the FIP and to Premier Padel.

Now we'll see if they decide to listen to us. If not, we'll have to continue adapting and being strategic both on and off the field.

"At first, I wasn't hooked."

 Padel Magazine :  Were you immediately drawn to padel?

 Lea Godallier:  Not at all.

Initially, I didn't really understand this sport because I was still playing a lot of tennis. In fact, I achieved my best tennis ranking the year I discovered padel.

But once I understood the full tactical dimension of the game and the atmosphere that reigns in this sport, I completely changed my mind.

Sharing the court with a partner was something I really enjoyed. It's a friendly atmosphere that I no longer find in tennis.

"Every club I played for in Bordeaux became like a family."

 Padel Magazine :  Bordeaux holds a special place in your journey. Where did you start?

 Lea Godallier:  I started at the Bordeaux Tennis Club.

Then, I also played a lot of Big Padel and I trained for a year and a half at Forest Padel.

Ultimately, in each of these clubs, I rediscovered a true family spirit. That's what makes Bordeaux so special to me.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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