Melissa Martin does his big first cas a journalist at Cupra Padel-Point Tour 4Padel Toulouse by interviewing her partner, adversary, friend and guest: Léa Godallier, the French n°2.

For the second stage of the Cupra Padel-Point Tour at home in Toulouse, the player of World Padel Tour and of Premier Padel flew from Paraguay so as not to miss this great face-to-face.

Beginning of the year, Premier Padel, European Games, difficulties, anything goes.

Interview.

Cupra Padel-Point Tour : a superb formula

I came back yesterday. I admit that for the moment, the jet lag is complicated to manage but it was important to me to be here with the whole team.

The formulaand Cupra Padel-Point Tour is really great. This mix between amateur tournaments, exhibition and this famous "one point" competition increases the padel.

The “one point” is stressful because you have no room for error. But I made it to the semi-finals. So proud of me!

The year of renewal

New partner, new side. For me, this is the year of renewal. I feel like I'm starting all over again. But it's really really interesting work. I wanted to switch sides. It was one of my wishes for several months. I had already made attempts on the circuit. With Teresa Navaro, I stayed on the right because she felt more comfortable on the left.

This year to be sure to play on the left, I play with a left-hander. Like that, there was no more choice. With Carolina Orsi, things are going very well. In addition to being with a partner with whom I get on very well humanly, she has a very professional staff. It's quite impressive.

She is very well surrounded with in particular Alejandra Salazar, Gemma Triay and Rodrigo Ovide who is a superb trainer. And so of course, I benefit from it too.

I left for a week to train with her.

lea-godallier-carolina-orsi

A big step forward

I think it's a positive start to the year. We are still getting to know each other with Carolina. I think there is a lot of room for improvement, both individually and collectively.

We'll try to see how it goes next. It's a beautiful project with a lot of ambitions.

It's the first time I've said to myself, since I've been playing padel, it's really cool, I have a great project that makes me want to. And I can't wait to see what it will bring.

Still on restraint

I'm still on restraint on some early matches. We saw it in the first two rounds of the South American tour with matches that were unsuccessful.

During the last Open in Paraguay, we played against Alix Collombon and Carla Mena. We take 6/0 in the first set and we manage to get by.

It's still shy. But I'm having a lot more fun. Physically on the left, it's different. And I want to continue to stay on the left.

On the other hand, I have to let go a little more. People who know me know that it costs me to take risks. But I'm learning, it's going to take time for me to get out of my comfort zone. That's why I'm very excited to see where this project with Carolina will take me.

The girls with Premier Padel

It was very long. Everything happened during this South American tour. We got the contract.

Except that this contract required that there be a certain number of players from the top 100 minimum in Premier Padel so that it can work.

However, we were afraid that it would not go to the end because we knew that there were certain players who were linked to the World Padel Tour and who therefore could not sign with Premier Padel.

In the end, the players agreed and validated with Premier Padel.

I think all the players thought it was a good thing for us. We have to do like the boys and we can play on Premier Padel also.

It's only positive, I don't see how it can be negative on this new circuit.

The best players in the world join Premier Padel

New dates, but I'm ready!

This certainly adds dates. But we also train for that. Premier Padel, this is the future. We will start in Rome next July.

More tournaments means more travel. It is true that for some, it is not easy. But for me, on the contrary, I like it and I'm ready.

When I was playing tennis, I was happy playing three times a day on the tour and I loved it. So I'm not afraid.

There is also curiosity about the difference that there could be in the organization, for example between the World Padel Tour et Premier Padel.

It's a new thing added to my new things. (laugh)

Lea Godallier Hope

Switch from WPT to Premier Padel : not enough dates

There are not enough dates on Premier Padel so that I tell myself that I will not make a tournament of the World Padel Tour.

We have to see in the future how things will go between the two circuits. Will they come to an agreement or not… we'll see next year.

On the other hand, I will certainly add tournaments from the FIP circuit (FIP Tour). We talked about it with Carolina. We need points to play the Premier Padel.

We must also be honest, we are not Ale Salazar and Gemma Triay. We don't play until Sunday. Sometimes we finish on Wednesday. And to say to ourselves that we have another opportunity to play another tournament on Thursday or Friday with a better chance of continuing in a tournament and even perhaps of winning it, it is also good to say to ourselves that we have other tournaments.

As a new pair, it's also beneficial for us to play more matches, more tournaments and potentially win more matches.

We will have to organize ourselves well.

Le World Padel Tour vs European Games

During the European Games (ed. from June 21 to July 2, 2023), we have the Valladolid Master 2023 (ed. from June 17 to 25). We sent all the information to try to participate.

But we have this problem of dates. If a solution cannot be found, the World Padel Tour could win against the European Games. For now, our career is on the World Padel Tour, and if we have to make a choice with Alix, we will move towards the World Padel Tour, even if obviously we would like to have this possibility with Alix to do the European Games and the Master.

If we lose on Wednesday and we can be in Poland the next day, we will be there. Now what can be done? Can we register for the European Games, while knowing that there is a risk of not being able to be present?

We would obviously like to be able to represent France at the European Games.

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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