Finalist of the P1000 of Créteil with Adrien Maigret, Nicolas Rouanet has just joined the top 100 France. At 26, Rouane sees his ambitions and his game evolve.

A tennis past

I have a fairly nice background in tennis. When I had 17, 18 years old, I was classified -2/6. I went to the United States for four years to continue my studies and I had to make a choice. My goal was to join the tennis circuit, unfortunately that didn't happen. I started coaching young people in an American academy for two and a half years.

I also had the chance to travel to the four corners of the world. I have been both sparring during the Masters 1000 but also coach of a player 120rd in the WTA ranking. It allowed me to travel to the biggest tournaments and rub shoulders with the stars of the circuit, it was a crazy experience. I returned to France last March.

Le padel et Rouane : a recent history

I had played two or three times padel in 2019 in my club. Then when I was in the United States, I didn't realize how big it was, I was really into tennis. Around me in Kentucky there was no land padel. Even in Florida, there were very few.

It was when I returned to France that I discovered this sport. I did a few tournaments with a friend from my tennis club (La Teste Tennis Club). We did P100s, P250s and I started to take a liking to competition. Everything happened really fast. The click, it happened this summer. In five months, I earned 13 P500s. I felt that I brought something to each of my partners. I immediately appreciated the spectacular side with the windows and the fun aspect of playing with friends. I very quickly adapted to the style of the padel.

A uniquely styled southpaw with a two-handed backhand

Nicolas Rouanet

My style of tennis game immediately suited the codes of padel. I have a good hand, a good vision of the game and with my vivacity it made up for the shortcomings I had at the start with the glass. When you come from tennis, you don't start from scratch, the transition is done quickly.

I have a small frame but there is still strength up there. in the future I would like to do more par 3s and work on my vibora. The tennis serve allowed me to give a lot of speed in these gestures and to have the relaxation necessary to let go of the arm at the right moment.

 The big performance at the P1000 in Créteil with Adrien Maigret

To be honest, it was a bit crazy. With my ranking, I don't really dare ask great players to play, it's not at all in my personality. In my region there is the Big Padel Jet Academy run by Jean-Thomas Peyrou where Dorian De Meyer, Thomas Vanbauce and Benjamin Grué train, who are in the top 20 in France. I had the chance to train with them and caught JT's eye. With Adrien, they work together, they know each other well and two weeks before the tournament I received a message from him. He was supposed to do the P1000 with Benjamin Tison but it didn't happen, so he was looking for another partner. At that time I surprised and for ten days I was a little under pressure, but playing with Adrien Maigret is still great.

A unique experience

With the 3rd place in the P1000 of Limoges and the 2rd place at the P1000 of Créteil, the month of January was very encouraging. The tournament was tough but we were fully aware of our strengths. The game that did me the most good was the quarter final salary. Jerome Inzerillo and Maxime Joris. It was tight and clearly it gave me a lot of confidence for the next morning.

Physically in the final, it was complicated. The step was maybe a bit high. Yann Auradou bothered me a lot in the diagonal. We had opportunities to break, we lost but it was very rewarding. To tell myself that I can compete with the French top 20, it's really encouraging for the future. Adrien was caring throughout, he gave me lots of advice, it was a unique experience.

Le padel still occasional in his daily life

For the moment my daily life is too busy for me to be a professional in the middle of the padel. I can't devote myself to it 100%. Currently I am training to become a tennis teacher. With lessons from Monday to Friday, I work 45 hours per week. I don't have time to do anything. When I play, it's one hour a week, on Fridays. I just try not to pull too much on the rope to avoid injury.

A future that is being written in France (for now)

Nicolas Rouanet

I will join the Big Padel Jet Academy in September, as soon as I have completed my training. For the moment, the foreigner does not interest me. I'm lucky to have top 25 players in the region. I have a lot to learn. I am very satisfied to train here, I know everyone. We will see in the future if things accelerate but in the short term, this is not the objective.

A tournament with Cyril Hanouna

This weekend, it's anecdotal but I'm playing with Cyril Hanouna in Vergigny, on a P500, it's going to be a fun experience. Then I will focus on the P1000 and P2000 from Bordeaux at the end of February and in the future I would like to fight on the FIP. In any case, I can't wait to finish my year to devote myself 100% to padel. I'm curious how far I can go.

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval football, round ball but also racket sports, he was stung by the padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a fan of the little yellow ball.

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