Former professional tennis player, former captain of the French Davis Cup team, director of the Sopra Steria Open in Lyon for over ten years Lionel Roux is also behind the  FIP Platinum Lyon , the third edition of which will be held from  21 27 in September 2026  au  Gerland Sports Palace .

After a passage of  FIP Gold  au  FIP Platinum  In just one year, the Lyon tournament continues its rise to prominence. But for its organizer, the goal is not to rush things.

Man in a navy blazer speaks into a handheld microphone on a stage, with an out-of-focus audience in the background.

"The goal is to start again for three more years."

Even before the start of this third edition, Lionel Roux is already working on the future of the tournament.

Discussions with key partners are well advanced, particularly with  Inelys , the event's naming partner, while discussions continue with the  Ville de lyon .

“We are truly committed to ensuring the tournament’s long-term viability. Discussions with Inelys are progressing very well; they are on board to participate again. With the City of Lyon, it always takes a little longer because they are institutional partners, but they too are very happy with the first two editions.”

The objective is now clear: to establish the tournament permanently in the Lyon sporting landscape.

"The idea is to start again on a three-year cycle, so 2027, 2028 and 2029."

A strategic date change

Among the main new features of this 2026 edition is the change of calendar.

The tournament is moving from the All Saints' Day holiday period to just after the  Paris Major .

A carefully considered choice.

“We used to meet during school holidays, which made it difficult to welcome companies and partners. Now, we're right after the Major de Paris competition, and I think it's a very good time to launch this third edition.”

This positioning also facilitates the arrival of top international players.

A smaller table to improve the experience

Another important development: the transition to a  main 28-pairs bracket .

A decision that responds to both sporting and logistical constraints.

"This allows us to have four seeded teams, but above all to play all the matches at the Palais des Sports. Last year, with a draw of 32, we were forced to relocate part of the first round."

The goal is to offer a more consistent experience for both spectators and partners.

Turning padel into a real spectacle

If the tournament evolves, Lionel Roux also wants to continue developing its identity.

His ambition is clear: to offer an experience different from that of tennis.

"I want to sell padel as a spectator sport, a bit like the NBA. A bit less like tennis, which is more standardized."

The partner village will be redesigned, more activities will be offered and several evening events will be scheduled to create a real event atmosphere.

"We mustn't rush things."

Despite the rapid evolution of the tournament, Lionel Roux refuses to give in to haste.

For him, the priority now is to consolidate the status  Platinum .

"We had a Gold year, then a Platinum year. Now we need to confirm this Platinum status. I think we shouldn't rush things."

A philosophy he has applied since the project's launch.

"Before revolutionizing things, we first need to be stable. A Platinum tournament represents a significant economic investment. Every year, the Palais des Sports has to be completely rebuilt."

Growth built step by step

Accustomed to developing sporting events with the Sopra Steria Open, Lionel Roux knows that time remains his best ally.

"It can't be built in two editions."

He prefers controlled progress rather than overly rapid growth.

"Many got carried away, promising things they ultimately couldn't deliver. We prefer to take things one step at a time."

He summarizes this philosophy with an image that resembles him.

"We move forward with our small hammer and chisel. We prefer to take one step each year rather than three steps forward and four steps back."

Making room for padel in a city that's already very sporty

In Lyon, there is strong competition between major events.

Football, rugby, basketball, tennis… the sporting calendar is already very full.

Lionel Roux is aware of this.

"There are a huge number of events in Lyon. It's not easy to make a name for yourself and it takes time."

However, the initial signs are encouraging.

He now says he hears conversations between enthusiasts who spontaneously bring up the tournament.

“What pleases me is when I hear a child say to their mother, ‘You haven’t forgotten to get the tickets for the tournament, have you?’ Or when a partner tells me that their clients are already asking for invitations for the following year.”

For him, this is proof that the tournament is gradually becoming a regular occurrence.

A plateau still under construction

With two months to go before the tournament, the list of players has not yet been finalized.

However, there is a priority.

"The idea is first and foremost to have Alix Collombon, the French number 1, in the best possible conditions."

Regarding wild cards, Lionel Roux wants to continue the philosophy already implemented in tennis.

Giving young French talents a chance.

"If we can showcase young French players who are starting to emerge, we will gladly do so."

Le Premier Padel "That's not the topic today."

Even though the dream of all the organizers remains to host a tournament Premier PadelLionel Roux prefers to remain realistic.

"Today, that's impossible since there are no new licenses." Premier Padel »

His ambition lies elsewhere.

"Platinum is a very good formula. We have an excellent level of play, with players ranked between the top 10 and top 20 in the world. Now, we need to consolidate what we have built."

Before aiming higher, FIP Platinum Lyon wants above all to continue to grow sustainably.

Like its organizer, the tournament is progressing quietly, but with a clearly defined guiding principle:  build for the long term rather than trying to grow too fast A philosophy that has already allowed the event to establish itself as one of the unmissable events of the  FIP Tour  in just two editions.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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