Nicolas Hervé de Beaulieu and the responsible for 4PADEL Maroon. Lorenzo Lecci Lopez therefore tried to learn more about the LE FIVE group, but also and above all its feeling on the road which is taken in France around the development of padel.

The FFT: a good start in the padel ?

The FFT took a long time to embark on the development of padel. The early years she clearly took the padel within his federation because the Ministry of Sports had asked him to. It wasn't really a real urge. It was necessary to put an end to the conflicts between the former French Federation of Padel and the National League of Padel.

The fact that the FFT is today the representative of padel, I think it's a good thing if there is perfect fairness in the politics of the FFT. And so far, a lot of players, private clubs and various players feel that is not the case.

The problem is that we then had the impression that the FFT was afraid to develop this sport. Perhaps she even feared that a competing federation would develop as in Spain.

Since 2018/2019, there has been a radical shift in the FFT padel. Well done to her.

Tennis has been losing ground in France for several years and the FFT is trying to keep its licensees as much as possible. This loss of speed in tennis probably contributed to her thinking twice about her strategy vis-à-vis the tennis court. padel.

It is a chance for the FFT to represent a sport which is on a very positive world dynamic. If the FFT does what it needs to do, we might see the padel become an essential sport in France.

FFT and the vector of development

The FFT already uses the padel as a vector for the development of its number of licensees by forcing players to padel to carry out approved tournaments which count for the classification.

She could have created a special license padel but for the moment it is the same license as for tennis.

The FFT is increasingly assimilating private structures and allows them to issue licenses directly via the ADOC tool. More and more, and like the relationship that 4PADEL with the FFT, it seeks to develop the padel as much in tennis clubs via grants to build courts, labels for field construction companies to guarantee quality installations and allow players to have beautiful installations and optimal playing conditions.

Le padel and tennis, same fight?

I think no, technically the padel is different from tennis, the shots are not the same, the tactics are very, very different. For me, they are two different sports. The padel is obviously easier to understand when you come from a racket sport, but when you see Spanish players playing as I have had the chance to see several times, you realize the technical difference and you also realize that the sector padel Spain brings out a lot of pure players from padel who have never touched a tennis racket.

Le padel, get out of the FFT?

I do not think so. The FFT for 2 years has been really investing in padel, she launched the FFT PADEL TOUR last year which was a success with stages in clubs but also final stages in public places to facilitate access to the general public and promote the sport.

The FFT has extremely strong means and a communications network which are clearly an advantage for the development of the padel.

An independent federation would not have the same impact in my opinion even if it could be more creative. The FFT announced the creation of a CNE padel in Paris. This shows that she wants to develop the high level as well as the amateur level and that is really a good thing for everyone.

4PADEL an asset for the padel

Le padel is developing enormously through private structures. 4PADEL, leader in France of padel shows the will to develop this sport. 3 years ago, LE FIVE only had 2 padel in its centers, in Bordeaux. Since then, LE FIVE has had the will to really develop the padel in its own right, through the creation of the brand 4PADEL who is the entity padel of the LE FIVE group.

a brand, a website, a different marketing strategy. Private structures have an important role to play. Toulouse Padel club in the Toulouse region is doing a lot of development work and was due to open new grounds this year, the FFT must rely on these private structures which have a real vocation to develop the padel, that's their job!

Develop the padel hand in hand with the tennis federation. As I said above, we must develop the padel hand in hand with the FFT, the clubs, as well as the private structures, everyone must join forces to develop the sport.

FFT PADEL TOUR and CNE PADEL

Le FFT PADEL TOUR and the CNE padel which will open its doors in Paris, these are important investments which show the will of the FFT to really develop this sport.

I think that in France, the practice of padel has the same potential as in Spain when the sport arrived. In the south, where sport is more accessible, there are real enthusiasts of padel from the youngest age.

Now the fact that the padel is very difficult to access and very little known makes expansion difficult. In all sectors (economic, technical, recreational, physical, social, logistics, etc.) padel is very efficient (and more efficient than tennis). I do not see any cultural reason that could cut off the development of padel if it was done more naturally.

From his names, we can guess his Spanish and Italian origins. Lorenzo is a multilingual passionate about sports: journalism by vocation and events by worship are his two legs. He is the international gentleman of Padel Magazine. You will often see it on the various international competitions, but also on the major French events. @eyeofpadel on Instagram to see his best photos of padel !

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