La France came close to disillusionment with theUruguay during his first group match World Championships Padel 2024.
France-Uruguay, it is a recurring opposition in this competition. Already in 2018 in Paraguay, France had won in the quarter-finals after a decisive match. At the time, it already faced Diego Ramos, still as formidable at 38 years old. This year, Ramos, associated with Mauricio Araujo, has once again given the French champions, with a precise and aggressive volley game. However, the Uruguayan squad shows shortcomings, unlike France which has a competitive workforce at each position.
Match 1: Victory for Timéo Fonteny and Johan Bergeron
In the first match, Timeo Fonteny et Johan Bergeron dominate the Uruguayan pair Rodrigo Jiménez Felice / Matias Ilarida Meyer in all compartments of the game. Timeo, at only 17 years old, has made a promising start in France team. Although timid at first, he asserts himself more and more and activates his “gunner mode” on several occasions. Johan Bergeron turns out to be the ideal teammate to launch Timéo into this adventure. Pablo Ayma, the captain of the gentlemen, can rejoice in this successful bet.
Match 2: An unexpected defeat for Leygue and Blanqué
The second match pits the French champions, Thomas Leygue / Bastien Blanqué, to the main pair of Uruguay, Diego Ramos / Mauricio Araujo De Lizarza. As always with Ramos, the match is long and disputed. The French start well and win the first set 6/3. But, with the wind coming into play, the mistakes accumulate and the Uruguayans come back into the game, equalizing at 6/3 3/6. At the start of the third set, Bastien Blanqué seems less fit, and despite the encouragement of Thomas Leygue, that's not enough. Uruguay surprised by winning this match, coming back to a score of 1 - 1.
Captain Pablo Ayma is thoughtful: he did not expect to see his star pair, the French champions, held in check by the Uruguayan team.
Match 3: Decisive victory for Guichard and Vives
The pressure then rests on Dylan Guichard and the new member, Manu Vives, who must secure victory to avoid an opening defeat. They face the Uruguayan pair Vicente Piastri (850) / Hector Ensslin Alves (472). On paper, the advantage is for the France, but the stakes are high and the two Frenchmen let the first set slip away 4/6. However, this loss of set seems to free the French pair, who find their level again and then chain a double 6/0.
A difficult but precious first victory
La France emerged victorious from this first encounter with a score of 2 - 1 facing theUruguay. The team approaches its next opposition against the Qatar, scheduled for this Tuesday around 17 p.m., with the desire to confirm.
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.