Present last week at  FIP Bronze from Marnes-la-Coquette Pierre Vincent returned to the international circuit alongside Basile Baud. Having come through qualifying, the two Frenchmen ultimately fell in the first round of the main draw against a top seed in the tournament.

But beyond this logical defeat, the interview primarily allows us to better understand the journey of a player who has become, with  Damien Bayard , one of the leading figures on the French circuit in recent months.

Between their repeated titles, their friendship which began well before padel, the injuries and the organizational difficulties in playing more on the FIP circuit, Pierre Vincent recounts a project built gradually, far from the pre-established paths.

Padel arrived almost by chance

Pierre Vincent's story with padel actually started quite late. In 2021, at the opening of the  PadelShot Saint-Etienne He began working at the club on a part-time basis while his brother held a manager position there.

At that time, padel was still a novelty.

Very quickly, his training sessions with  Simon Boissé , then a member of the French top, accelerated his learning.

“I did a lot of diagnostics with him. Naturally, that allowed me to learn all the basics of the sport.”

Initially, nothing seemed to be planned. But as the months went by, the time spent on the slopes naturally increased.

And gradually, padel is taking up more and more space in his daily life.

An injury that cuts off momentum

At the beginning of 2025, while he was considering modifying his organization between the French circuit and FIP tournaments, Pierre Vincent went through a much more complicated period physically.

Periostitis in both tibias brought his progress to a halt.

"It came at a time when I already wanted to take a little break from the FIP circuit."

This chronic injury forced him to slow down for several weeks. This break, however, ultimately served as a transition before a return more focused on the French circuit.

It was also at this time that the project of regularly playing with him emerged more seriously.  Damien Bayard .

P1000 All in Lyon: Pierre Vincent is back!

A friendship that began long before padel

Today, their partnership has become one of the most feared in French padel. Yet, their shared history doesn't begin on a padel court at all.

The two players have known each other since adolescence through tennis. Originally from Saint-Étienne, they played for the same club before joining an academy in Lyon together in 2015.

At the time, they shared the daily lives of several players who are now playing at the very highest level.

"We lived alongside Kyrian Jacquet and Ugo Blanchet. It was a wonderful time."

The bond is created at that moment and will never truly disappear.

"We never lost touch. And ultimately, padel entered our lives almost at the same time."

Years later, their partnership on the French circuit seems almost natural.

A domination built through labor

The 2025 season for the Bayard/Vincent pair left its mark on the French circuit. Titles came thick and fast, almost every week, with several  P1000  et  P1500  won.

From the outside, this consistency might have given the impression of almost automatic dominance. Pierre Vincent explains, however, that this consistency is based primarily on an enormous workload.

The two players train daily at  Mind Padel  under the direction of  François Authier surrounded in particular by  Basil Baud ,  Robin Petitdidier  or,  Quentin Perrin .

"We had convinced ourselves that we needed to train a lot."

Even after a victory, the way things worked remained the same.

"We played every tournament as if nothing was a given. A first round was approached exactly like a final."

This constant demand allowed them to string together performances for several months.

Who can really stop Vincent/Bayard on the French circuit?

“You never get tired of winning”

With so many titles won in a single season, a certain routine could set in. Pierre Vincent does not share this view at all.

For him, victory remains a sensation impossible to trivialize, especially after having long been involved in the FIP circuit where results are inevitably harder to achieve.

"Having experienced the FIP circuit, we know that victories are much rarer. So naturally, when they win, we appreciate it even more."

The Frenchman acknowledges, however, that facing the same pairs often can sometimes become repetitive on the national circuit.

But playing and winning with a close friend inevitably changes a lot of things in the daily approach.

Why do Bayard and Vincent play so little on the FIP circuit?

This is a question that comes up regularly among followers of French padel: why do the Bayard / Vincent pair appear so little on the international circuit despite their level?

The answer is primarily related to the personal organization of the two players.

While Pierre Vincent makes a living entirely from padel, Damien Bayard still works a day job. This situation makes international travel much more complicated, especially with qualifying matches often scheduled in the middle of the week.

"If we could, we would play a lot more FIP."

The project, however, remains ever-present in their minds.

Pierre Vincent does not rule out playing in several international tournaments again soon, with Damien Bayard if the organization becomes possible… or perhaps occasionally with other partners.

P1000 PadelShot Lyon: Pierre Vincent / Damien Bayard live up to their status and win at home

Should you start early on the international circuit?

At the end of the interview, Pierre Vincent also addresses a topic that comes up regularly in current French padel: that of young players who choose very early to launch themselves on the FIP circuit.

The Saint-Étienne native has a fairly balanced view on the matter. For him, it remains important to first build solid foundations in France before trying to perform internationally.

"I was always taught: be strong at home before you try to be strong elsewhere."

In his view, skipping certain steps can sometimes slow down progress rather than accelerate it.

But Pierre Vincent immediately qualifies his statement. According to him, many young French people already possess the necessary skills to take this step without further delay.

He cites in particular  Jeremy Robert ,  Olivier Guy de Chamisso  or,  Lucas Pillon , profiles that he already considers capable of competing with the best French players.

"Just because they haven't won some big tournaments in France yet doesn't mean they shouldn't give it a shot."

For him, everything ultimately depends on the actual level displayed on the track much more than on the raw results.

"If the level of play is already there, there's no need to delay."

Conversely, when the level remains too irregular, Pierre Vincent believes it may be more relevant to continue honing one's skills on the French circuit before multiplying international tournaments.

A lucid analysis, quite representative in the end of his own journey: a progression built step by step, without haste.

A competitor… and a Saint-Étienne native to the very end

Before concluding the interview, it was obviously impossible to avoid one last question, which was far removed from padel.

Big supporter of AS Saint-Étienne Pierre Vincent took part in making his predictions regarding the playoff against Nice.

And the Saint-Étienne player clearly believes it.

"I see Saint-Étienne winning 3-1 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Then a draw in Nice and Saint-Étienne in Ligue 1 next year."

Even away from the track, the competitor remains loyal to his colors.

And as this discussion progresses, one thing emerges quite naturally: behind the performances and titles won in recent months, Pierre Vincent is moving forward above all with a very clear vision of his progress, a lot of stability in his entourage… and a real passion for the game.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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