Having been settled in for a year Réunion, Leo Perez is one of the rising stars of local padel. Ranked 40th French playerHe wears many hats: coach, player and, more recently, official speaker du FIP Silver Champ Fleuri, the first international padel tournament organized on the island.

A dual role: player and announcer

“I live in the highlands, ten minutes from the Champ Fleuri club, so I know the pitches and playing conditions perfectly,” explains Léo.
Since his arrival, he has seen the club evolve rapidly: "With the four new pitches and the adjustments recently made by a Spanish coach, the quality of play is truly optimal."

In addition to acting, Leo was given the role of official speaker of the tournament.
"It's an idea that came from the organization. I had already hosted sporting events in mainland France, so we thought it would be interesting to try the experience here."
A new challenge for him: "It will be an intense weekend, with a lot of people, but I am determined to bring a real friendly atmosphere and to keep the padel show to all the spectators.

A unique FIP on the island

For Leo, this FIP Silver is a first in several respects.
"This is my first international tournament. The field is impressive: several pairs ranked between 50th and 200th in the world. The level will be very high and the crowd loves it."
The player especially hopes that this event will be a springboard for padel in Réunion:
"Here, our level of competition usually stops at P1000This FIP allows local players to discover another level of play and progress in their skills. tactic et technical »

Léo Perez: player, coach and announcer at the heart of the FIP Silver Champ Fleuri in Reunion Island

From the metropolis to the Indian Ocean

Before Reunion Island, Léo's career was marked by tennis and education.
“I was a semi-professional tennis player until I was 18 or 19, then I became a coach. I discovered padel in Spain, at my grandparents' house. That's where I caught the bug.”
His passion led him to settle permanently on the island:
"I came for a tournament, I extended my stay, and on my second trip, I packed my bags and my racket. You have to take the plunge! Life here is sunny, the climate incredible, and the people very welcoming."

Objective: to compete at the highest level

The Champ Fleuri tournament will also mark its first international points.
"I'm still unranked globally, so this FIP ranking is a first step. Having an international ranking would be a great achievement."
With his partner, he hopes to participate in other tournaments on the circuit:
"This is a first draft for both of us. We'll see how it goes, but the goal is to go and compete against other nations and learn."

Léo emphasizes the collective significance of this event:
"It's a unique opportunity to have two international tournaments 20 minutes apart. This FIP Silver and the FIP in Réunion Padel The clubs that follow are milestones in the growth of padel in Reunion Island.
He hopes these competitions will become a annual meeting :
"We hope that others will follow, perhaps three or four next year, or even one FIP in MauritiusThe Champ Fleuri site is ideal, and the island has everything to attract players from all over the world.

"The club team is doing a tremendous job, and the president is very dedicated."
"We're under pressure to deliver, there will certainly be things to improve, but that's normal for a first time. This FIP is a foundation, a starting point, and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves."

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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