Padel continues to attract players far beyond its historical sphere. The latest example: Walid Acherchour, a well-known media figure in the football debate, guest on the show On the track with WALID (4PADEL), hosted by Jules Mary and Chewer.

Filmed at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the episode blends a long interview, technical exchanges and challenges on the field, offering a nuanced portrait of a committed, self-taught practitioner who is clear-sighted about his level.

A voice of football, a global relationship with the media

Walid Acherchour presents himself first and foremost as a media man, rooted in a diverse practice:

"I talk about football on different platforms, on RMC, on DAZN, on YouTube. Today, it's 360 degrees. Radio is becoming video, and the shows then live on TikTok, Instagram, everywhere."

While he acknowledges a strong presence in the media landscape, he puts it into perspective with humor:

"If I am an influential voice, it's because I speak loudly."

But when it comes to padel, the discourse changes. There's no expert posturing, nor any automatic transposition of one's media status to the playing field:

"To be an influential voice in padel, you'd first have to do padel shows. For now, I'm mainly trying to be influential on the court."

A late but intensive discovery of padel

Walid Acherchour discovered padel in 2021, almost by chance, at the initiative of his professional entourage. A former tennis player for more than thirty years, he arrived with a solid foundation, but without specific experience.

Very quickly, the practice becomes a daily one:

“We played every day. We’d arrive at 10am and leave at 14pm or 15pm. We did that for a year and a half, completely self-taught.”

A rhythm made possible by an unusual schedule, where sport becomes a space for relaxation as much as a place for exchange:

"We played, we talked about football, we went to eat. That was our day."

Level of play: between honesty and high standards

When asked about the level, Walid Acherchour answers without hesitation:

"I've already won some P100s and finished fifth in a P250. I think I can get out of the group stage in a P250 and win some P100s."

A clear-eyed assessment, far removed from the embellished rhetoric often heard in amateur circles:

"In padel, there's a real lack of self-awareness about one's abilities. People always think they're a bit too good."

A dedicated defender and self-proclaimed right-sided player, he clearly highlights his offensive limitations:

"I'm a good defender, but offensively, I have big problems. I can't finish points."

Work, progress, and coaches

Aware of his areas for improvement, Walid Acherchour has recently resumed a more structured work routine:

"I trained with Manu Vives. He did me a lot of good."

He emphasizes the importance of supervised sessions, both technically and physically:

"I like the one-hour or one-and-a-half-hour classes. It allows me to really exercise and progress."

What padel brings him

Beyond the game itself, it's the collective experience that's so appealing:

"The fun, unifying aspect, the fact of being in pairs, touching the ball a lot, having long rallies."

But also this implicit recognition between players:

“When people say ‘Walid is a good player, he cooks well,’ it’s bound to flatter his ego a little.”

He likens this system to that of amateur football, where respect is built on the field.

Inspirations and references on the professional circuit

On the professional circuit, Walid Acherchour mainly observes right-handed players:

"Chingotto impressed me. Defensively, he's incredible."

His favorite player remains, however Agustín Tapia, with a telling comparison:

"Tapia is like Messi. You watch what he does, you try to reproduce it, and you can't."

Among his amateur partners and opponents, one name stands out clearly:

"Stephen Brun is unplayable. A former professional basketball player, he has incredible volleying skills. If he really took up padel, he would easily be in the top 100."

He also talks about his journey with players he saw progress faster than him, proof of a practice where humility remains essential.

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.

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