Claude Baigts, President of the French Open of padel gives us an update on this year 2017, its final phase, its European Championship and its progress. 

The Open de France: what's new? Changes ?

The end of August date is changing. Henceforth, the great feast of padel will take place on September 8, 9 and 10, 2017. The French Open keeps its name, but the naming of the competition will be “La Mutuelle du Rempart” and that for a period of 3 years. This year, for this edition, we will occupy the entire Place du Capitole, i.e. 4000 m2 to set up 2 courts, a business village, VIP areas over 300 m2 and a sports motor skills area for 6-10 year olds. the Sport, Health and Well-being Village, which was very successful in 2016, has seen its surface area doubled. 10 health professions will be present.

2 / Mode of operation of the Open de France?

We had promised a Mutual France Open Mixed Rempart, we will present a final table of 16 teams for 8 nationalities.

A word about sports equipment: 2 courts of padel carried out under the control of padel  Consortium that selected Padel International and a 100% French manufacturer who have passed the so-called mother-in-law test …… We'll talk about it again. But this is a process that allows to validate the quality of padel ! The play surfaces are entrusted to Tarkett.

3 / The clubs of padel partner. The dates ?

The final stages will take place so the 8, 9 and 10 September.

To date, the selections of clubs from the Monegasque Federation, De Valls Spain, Toulouse Padel Club, the Big IV-Valencienne, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece and Italy are selected by the European Association of Private Clubs of padel.

4 / Concerning the European circuit, how is it organized?

For 2017, the launch of the European Championship will be made up of the 8 founding clubs who will meet in Toulouse in 2 groups of 4 clubs each presenting a ladies' team and a men's team. The first 2 of each group will play the 1/2 finals and the others the classification matches. These clubs and their representatives will launch the 2018 edition, which will feature 32 European clubs.

All French Open Mixte Mutuelle du Rempart players and those in the European Club Championship are accommodated in 5 and 4 star hotels and catering is provided by the organizing committee. 90% of the partners of the 2016 edition have renewed their partnership:
Mutuelle du Rempart -Décathlon- Renault, Perrier, Nestlé and the partners of the Village Sport Santé Bien-être were joined by 15 other companies.

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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