Patrick Fouquet: “Team France 2018 can change”

 Patrick Fouquet - I take my pain patiently since I had my shoulder surgery coming back from the European Championships padel.

So rehabilitation thoroughly, it goes well but the road is long. Objective to be able to send balls to the basket from mid-March and gradually resume the game the following months.

To occupy the time, I go to Madrid to spend a week with the team of Jorge MARTINEZ the coach of the twins to see what is being done with the pros, the good young people, the physical work, the development in one of the biggest clubs in the world. 'Spain then certainly a small visit to SANSET (the largest indoor club in padel in the world).

We must continue to learn.

A sad start to the year?

The news padel at the start of the year, it was sad to see CENTRAL PADEL LYON close its doors. It shows that you can be very professional in your job but that setting up a club over time remains more than difficult and high rents remain unbearable charges for too small structures so be careful. The strong development that we are experiencing in France, as in Europe elsewhere, may make us believe that it is easy to get started, but it is not for various reasons.

Regarding the French team, can pairs like Tison / Maigret join Team France as soon as they qualify for the world championship?

We did a great European championship with the French teams, the overall level of play was very good and the team's understanding within the team was top. So do not cross all this good work with one stroke.

But the team is not closed, on the contrary! And those who will achieve results can join the Team Padel France.

Regarding the pair TISON / MAIGRET, she knocks on the door. We are working with Alexis Salles the captain of the Gentlemen's team at a meeting with A slightly enlarged team of France ladies and gentlemen.

Competition is more and more important ...

It is not easy to make choices when there are so many good players. And we're not going to complain about it. The past year has seen the arrival of many players of very good levels and this year should be that of confirmation and steps to go.

How to choose then?

First the results during the French Championship of padel 2018. For the World Cup we will have the same selection system as last year, namely that the 2 finalist teams of the French championship will be directly qualified. After that you will have to play at least 3 P1000 in the season to be qualified.

In girls, we have 2 very good teams. What we may be missing is a team 3 at the level of Laura and Audrey to allow us to hope against nations like Portugal. But in girls, we feel that it is organized, even if we unfortunately have less competition than in men.

Alix Collombon and Laura Clergue are playing in Spain, so we will be even stronger than this year. The young people who arrived in the France team have now acquired experience. It is up to them to make this experience bear fruit this year.

In boys, the configuration is not at all the same. We have quasi pros and a hard base in the team with Bastien Blanqué / Johan Bergeron / Robin Haziza / Jérémy Scatena / Max Moreau. They are just doing that and it should progress a lot this year.

But it is true that there are a lot of players among the gentlemen in France who deserve to join Team France. Our gathering could help us to choose the composition of the French team. I would add that if Gaby Reca joins us, the places for the gentlemen will be very expensive.

The objectives for the world padel 2018?

For the French teams, the course is set for the Mondial du Paraguay at the end of October. Men will have to go through the qualifiers before going there. It should work in principle. The selection for the qualifiers will be entirely in our hands, so the first half will count. Then we will see how things are going.

But remember: There are 2 years, we arrived 11e in the men and 9e in the ladies. We hope, of course, to do better in Paraguay.

Could we see Gaby Reca be part of the Team Padel France ? Last year, some already hoped.

We want to work a little with Gaby RECA as much as possible since he had offered to do it for his skill.

But also because he could play with us at the World if he likes it, it's a way of integrating him into the team too.

What do you think France lacks to tickle the best nations in the world?

Countries like Portugal have put in federal programs and resources. Conclusion: It has become a strong nation. They have progressed a lot, but it is heavy financially.

On our side we move slowly with our means, and the next World will really be a clue to our level.

Afterwards, I would like us to go on a program for young people and have a French team to send in 2019 to the next World Youth Championship.

Interview by Franck Binisti