Present at WinWin P2000 Padel Cabriès, Stephanie Fonteny is not only the mother of Timéo Fonteny, a young hopeful of French padel. She is also a player, passionate and today, a proud representative of the family in the main board of this major tournament. A warm interview with a dedicated and clear-sighted mother-player on the challenges of supporting high-level players.

From tennis… to padel

Before Timéo, she was the one who discovered padel.

"I started before him! We live 500 meters from the club Padel Riviera. A cousin told me about padel, but I didn't know anything about it. I had played a little tennis when I was younger, so I already liked racket sports.

Very quickly, passion took hold. And Timéo, then still a tennis player, let himself be convinced.

“He came and hit a few balls with us… and he got hooked. Like me.”

A family fiber… but not for everyone

If mother and son share a common addiction to padel, this is not the case for the rest of the family:

"Thierry, the dad, is into judo. It's not really racket sports. He likes it, but it's not his passion."

And Timéo, did he inherit his mother's playing style?

"Not my power, not my bandeja either! Maybe my tenacity. I don't like to give up a point. And I don't think he does either."

Behind the scenes: supporting a young person in search of the highest level

For almost three years, Timéo left home to pursue his dream. An adventure made possible by the Boronad family, who hosted him for two and a half years in Perpignan.

"He trained with Alain Henry at Club du Mas, then went to Barcelona with Yoan Boronad for nine months. And now, they're trying a new experience in Palavas with Yannick Morel and Ben Tison."

From a distance, the mother follows, encourages and supports as much as possible.

"It's not easy, but it's his passion. And he's lucky to have been well supported to help him progress."

The return of the Boronad / Fonteny duo

After a short period of separation on the circuit, Yoan Boronad and Timéo Fonteny quickly found each other, much to Stephanie's satisfaction.

"I think it's a good thing. In professional padel, pairs change very quickly, sometimes too quickly. But to play well together, it takes time. They know each other inside out, and their games complement each other very well."

She does, however, acknowledge that these periods outside the duo could have been beneficial.

"They each learned from other partners. But today, we can clearly see that their level has improved. Their victory in Seville at the FIP Silver is proof of that."

A mother, a player, a desire for mixed

Present in Cabriès in the main board, Stéphanie didn't just play a supporting role. And inevitably, the idea of ​​a mother-son duo in competition makes you dream.

"I'd love it! I'm extending the invitation to my son! A French "family" championship would be fantastic. Mother/son, sister/brother... We'd be the first to sign up."

The idea has been launched, and could well appeal to the FFT.

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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