Following in the footsteps of the National Tennis Cup, the most famous amateur tennis competition, the National Padel Cup caused a sensation in Cap d'Agde.

From October 25 to 31, the Cap d'Agde International Tennis Center presented its 3 new padel courts to host the National Padel Cup. Two temporary courts were also installed to host the biggest French padel competition.

Some numbers…

More than 600 pairs participating in the National Padel Cup as well as nearly 200 pairs throughout the week.

2 players from the world top 100, Sergio Alba and Carlos Serralde as well as the recent French champion Robin Haziza and Mathieu Barrot from the Manosque padel club put on a magnificent demonstration.

The show also took place in reality all week long with the best French pairs in particular trying to win the 1rd edition of the National Padel Cup

The big surprises ...

In women, the French padel champions Audrey Casanova and Laura Clergue were beaten by the Perpignan pair Line Meites / Mai Vo (7/6 7/6). The pair from Club du Mas played a huge match. Line Meites played on the right, unlike in the French championships where she played on the left (3e), Mai Vo played on the left and arrived as an unknown at Cap d'Agde... Let's remember that Line Meites with Emmeline Lambregth had already played a semi-final against the French padel vice-champions Géraldine Sorel and Sandy Godard, won 6/3 3/6 10/7 (decisive game).

Line Meites / Mai Vo is definitely the new winning formula. It's an aggressive pair that does not let opponents breathe.

« This is our greatest victory " expressed the two players, obviously very satisfied with their performance against the French number 1s.

The surprise effect is over, next time they will be eagerly awaited.

In mixed, in the opinion of all, the global level " has never been so raised " In the final, we find two well-known pairs: Laura Clergue / Jérôme Ferrandez against Alizé Cornet and Michael Kuzaj. What a match! While we saw the French champion associated with the French vice-champion win this competition, the Cornet / Michael pair showed an astonishing strength of character.

The first set is one-sided for the favorites. It is then that they lose their concentration slightly by making a few mistakes, the match becomes balanced. Cornet / Kuzaj plays intelligently by making them play as much as possible and taking advantage of a few mistakes. This strategy in the tie-break looks set to be decisive. Final score: 2/6 7/6 10/4.

In the mixed, Alizé Cornet and Michael Kuzaj are establishing themselves as the new pair to beat.

At men's, it's a half-surprise, because we know the value of Laurent Imbert and Bastien Blanqué... The Midi-Pyrénées league is very high-level and they unfortunately narrowly missed out on accession to the French padel championships.

Faced with the vice champions of France, the strategy is simple for the Midi-Pyrenees pair: Laurent Umbert plays a game described by some as " false rhythm "Or" slow " making the opponents play badly while Bastien Blanqué hits smashes to kill the points. The association is explosive.

Faced with Jérôme Ferrandez and Laurent Boulade, they play perfection. Perhaps a little tired for Jerome Ferrandez after his previously complicated mixed defeat ...

The match is very close, but it is ultimately Toulouse who win. Final score: 6/4 7/6.

The National Padel Cup will continue to evolve

The first edition exceeded all expectations in terms of the number of players… But the organization can do better. Corrections are already planned and an unexpected spectacle could see the light of day next year…

To participate in the final stages of 2016, it will be necessary to go through qualifying phases that will start in January / February.

Franck Binisti

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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