Nicolas Rouanet: “I heard a hundred times that if I won, it was thanks to Blanqué”

Vice-champion of France 2025 alongside Bastien Blanqué, Nicolas Rouanet surprised everyone during the last French Championships in Casa Padel Tres. Still discreet on the national scene, the left-hander has proven that he knows how to respond in moments of high intensity. Between mental preparation, pressure management, unexpected anecdotes, and ambitions for the future, he recounts his career in detail.

A mental preparation above all

As soon as he knew that a partnership with Bastien Blanqué was possible, Rouanet prepared himself primarily on the psychological aspect: “I was somewhat aware that Bastien could call me. From that moment on, I prepared myself mentally. I knew the pressure was going to be enormous, that everyone would be waiting for me. My goal was to be in the moment and reveal my true level of play.” Rouanet tells a delicious anecdote: before these Championships, he had almost never played with Bastien. “We only met once at a tournament in Italy, at an FIP. We played… 20 minutes together, but pickleball!” A detail that makes the alchemy born during this weekend even more improbable.

The pressure of playing with the French number 1

Playing with the best French player on the left, a proven champion, was not an easy mission: “Yes, there was apprehension. It wasn't just excitement, but real pressure: to be up to the task. I knew I was going to be in a lot of demand, that I would be touching a lot of balls. The idea was not to miss out and to show that I could deliver.” Even before the tournament, some comments were flying: “People were already telling me I was a French champion before it started, just because I played with Bastien. But it's not that simple. Many players in this type of duo can't manage the weight. I focused on not missing out.”

Nicolas Rouanet: “I heard a hundred times that if I won, it was thanks to Blanqué”

Responding to criticism

The left-hander knew that his association would provoke reactions: “If it worked, many would say it was normal, that it was thanks to Bastien. But it wasn't easy for it to work. Bastien has already played with others, and sometimes it didn't work. I wanted to prove to him, as to the others, that we could form a good pair and go for the title.”

A trigger for the future

This journey gave him new certainties: “I already knew my level, but I managed to reproduce it in a context with a lot of pressure. For me, it was a turning point. Did I play better than usual? No, but I managed to deliver my best padel in a very tight situation, against the best French players. Mentally, I reached a new level. I beat players from the French team, and that changes the perception that others may have of me.”

Goals and future

Rouanet doesn't intend to stop there. The end of the season will be even more busy: “There are six or seven FIP tournaments left until November. I'm continuing with Isaac Husevelt, with whom I've been playing for two months. We're getting along well, on and off the court, and we're getting good results. We're finishing the season together.”

The French team in the back of my mind

Even though he was not selected this year, he hopes that his performance will have an impact on the future: “I think I scored some points. Pablo Ayma gave me very positive feedback after my matches. I know the competition is tough, especially on the right, but it's up to me to keep winning and improving. Nothing is certain. Maybe this Championship will tip the scales for what comes next. In any case, I know that Pablo saw me in Bordeaux, he saw me in these Championships and he follows my results. That counts.”

A bitter finale

The defeat, after two match points, remains painful: “In the heat of the moment, it was very complicated. I didn't want to be there at the awards ceremony. But Bastien and I quickly decided to focus on the positives. In one week, we experienced a powerful human and sporting adventure. Playing with him will remain an unforgettable experience.” Rouanet also measures the distance traveled: “Our draw was tough: Ayuso and Muesser in the last 16, Boronad and Fonteny in the quarter-finals, Tison and Forcin in the semi-finals… It was physically and mentally exhausting. In the final, we perhaps lacked a bit of freshness. We were French champions by one point. But when I look back, I only remember the positives.”

A personal story

Beyond the sport, this adventure has a particular resonance for him: “A few years ago, I was still living in the United States. I watched the French Championships on YouTube with Bastien, Johan Bergeron… I had never even played padel. And three years later, I found myself defending the title with Bastien. It's something unique, a crazy adventure that I will never forget.”

Franck Binisti

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.