Natan Étienne: from tennis to a renaissance in padel

Au FIP Bronze from Rivesaltes The day has barely ended, and the players are already feeling the effects of the intense qualifying rounds. On the courts near Perpignan, the matches followed one after another, often long, often close. It is in this context that Natan agrees to reflect on his day and, more broadly, on his rather atypical journey from tennis to padel.

His fatigue is evident, and he makes no attempt to hide it. Fatigue " he says immediately, after a series of matches played against young players from a Spanish academy. A busy day, marked by several close matches and a sometimes unpredictable outcome.

A marathon day in qualifying

On paper, the qualifying rounds already seemed demanding. On the track, they turned into a real marathon.

Natan Étienne and his partner Lucas Potel played three matches against players from a Spanish academy, a format that immediately demands a high level of intensity. The first match went relatively well, with a controlled victory that allowed them to get into the competition.

But things quickly become more tense. The matches get longer, the level of play increases, and every point becomes more hard-fought.

One of the most memorable moments of the day came during the second match, won in a tie-break under unusual circumstances. The end of the match was quite legendary. A double fault from the opponent on match point at 6-5 in the tie-break… it was crazy. »

This kind of scenario is a reminder of how easily qualifications can hinge on a few points, sometimes even on a single detail.

The final match, however, turned into a physical battle. The rallies became heavier, legs ache, and Natan began to suffer from cramps in both thighs. Despite this, the pair held on until the very end.

« I get cramps in both thighs by the third one… we almost end up walking. »

At the end of the day, a 6/4 defeat in the third set, but a valuable experience gained by Lucas and Natan for their first steps on the international circuit (second FIP tournament for Lucas Potel).

FIP Bronze Rivesaltes: the qualifiers are known, Suzanna/Piombo make a strong impression

Twenty years of tennis before padel

Before settling down in padel, Natan spent most of his life on tennis courts. For nearly two decades, this sport structured his daily life.

Like many padel players today, he first discovered the sport informally, through a few games with friends in 2019.

But the real transition came a few years later, at a time when tennis no longer gave him the same sensations.

« I was depressed about tennis. I couldn't take it anymore, I was sad. »

This period marks a turning point. Padel then appears as an alternative, almost a breath of fresh air in a sporting career that had become burdensome.

The environment also plays an important role in this transition. Padel offers a more collective, more convivial setting, which contrasts sharply with the isolation often felt in tennis.

« Padel is a blast… and the guys you play with are nice. »

His playing style, already geared towards attack in tennis, also facilitates his adaptation. Serve-and-volley, early ball contact, a taste for the net: all these elements naturally find their place on a padel court.

Learning a new sport

However, the transition is not immediate. While some technical skills are transferred quickly, padel remains a sport in its own right, with its own reference points and its own automatic movements.

Natan himself acknowledges that the adaptation took time, particularly on a central element of the game: the use of the windows.

« For the past year or so, I've been playing with the glass... and even in matches I'm not always confident. »

Like many former tennis players, he initially continued to play "live," favoring hitting the ball before it hits the glass. A natural reflex, but one that sometimes limits tactical options.

Gradually, he learns to slow down the game, to accept indirect trajectories and to construct points differently.

Even today, this aspect remains one of his areas for improvement. In training, he strives to create a variety of situations to gain confidence and further integrate this specific style of play.

Natan Étienne: from tennis to a renaissance in padel

A rapid rise in the rankings

Despite this gradual learning process, the progression in the French rankings was particularly rapid.

At the beginning of 2025, Natan Étienne was playing around the 300th place French A year later, it now points to around the 75th place .

He attributes his rise to a very busy season of competition.

Alongside his then-partner, Thomas Messina, he played in tournaments almost every weekend. The path is one familiar to many up-and-coming players: starting with qualifying, battling to get through the early rounds, and then gradually facing seeded players.

« We were battling in qualifying, then in the round of 32… and little by little you get up to speed. »

By playing a series of matches, players develop their bearings and their level of play improves. Progress doesn't come from a single breakthrough, but from an accumulation of experience.

Discover the latest tours

With the results, Natan also began to discover another dimension of the circuit: that of the final four.

Reaching a final, playing on Sundays, facing players who are better established in the rankings… these are all steps that allow you to measure the gap and understand what is still missing to take the next step.

These confrontations are often demanding, but they also serve to reveal new things.

« The guys are better, and that raises the level. »

In these matches, every detail counts: energy management, clarity in key moments, the ability to maintain the pace throughout a whole day of competition.

An offensive style to channel

On the track, Natan boasts a very instinctive playing style. Inherited from tennis, this approach is based on aggression and taking the initiative.

« I'm a little bit crazy. »

This energy can be a strength, especially against more composed players who seek to dictate the pace. But it must also be controlled.

One of the identified areas for improvement concerns precisely the management of tempos and the reduction of direct errors.

Varying the rhythms more, knowing how to pace himself, maintaining lucidity in important moments: these are all elements that can allow him to reach a new level.

A parallel professional life

Unlike some players who are entirely dedicated to padel, Natan also pursues a professional career in parallel.

He now works in Sports marketing and the world of startups , a dynamic environment but one that inevitably leaves less time to train or analyze matches.

« I don't watch that much of it, I have a pretty full life outside of that. »

Despite this, some players on the French circuit are catching his attention. Among them, he notably mentions... Maxime Joris , whose intensity and commitment on the track he appreciates.

The objectives for the future

For the 2026 season, Nathan prefers to remain cautious about his goals. Progress in the French rankings depends on many factors, including the calendar and opportunities to participate in international tournaments.

He does, however, acknowledge that he is aiming for a new stage.

« I would like to end the year between 30 and 40. »

An ambitious but consistent objective in light of its recent progress.

Beyond the rankings, he also identifies a priority area for improvement: physical conditioning. The ability to maintain a high level of intensity throughout a tournament day could become a determining factor in his progress.

Continue to enjoy yourself

As the interview draws to a close, Natan participates in one last exercise: discussing what one might wish for him in the future.

The first thing concerns the personal balance that he seems to have regained thanks to padel.

« To continue to be fulfilled… because I am. »

On the sporting front, he hopes to quickly reach a new level in tournaments and confirm his progress.

« Go and rob tournaments quickly, but above all maintain the intensity. »

Finally, he leaves the door open to new experiences, particularly on the international circuit.

« Maybe do some FIP radio… travel a bit. That would be awesome. »

Looking back, Nathan's journey resembles that of many players from the new French wave: a late entry into padel, rapid progress thanks to the accumulation of matches, and a balance to be found between sporting ambition and professional life.

In just a few seasons, he went from a player still learning the basics of the game to a competitor capable of gradually establishing himself at the top of the national rankings. This progression was built without a fixed plan, but with plenty of competition, encounters, and a rediscovered joy on the track.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!