They dreamed of this moment, they made it happen.  Célia Talano and Loann Jovasevic  became French U18 champions after a solid run and a final won against  Victoria Isaac and Lison Chrétien Meal , surprising defeats of the Barla / Lambert Agosti pair in the semi-final. For their last years in juniors, the two players savor a title that is both liberating and symbolic, the fruit of their seriousness and determination.

Loann Jovasevic: “I had nothing to lose”

For Loann Jovasevic, this championship had a special flavor.
"It was my last year as a junior and I wanted to finish it off well. I trained a week before in Casa Padel Toulouse with Brice Bernard, which gave me a lot of confidence. But above all, I approached it differently: I told myself that I had nothing to lose and I played without pressure."

The final scenario didn't change her mindset: "Truthfully, I never asked myself that question. I was ready and I would have approached the match with the same motivation, no matter the opponent."

Ambitious, Jovasevic is already looking to the future: "My goal is to progress and play internationally. I'm going to live in Spain at the start of the school year to train in the best conditions within the Casa group Padel »

She also has a special memory of this edition: “This tournament was my favorite! So many wonderful memories with my league and our coach Fabien Le Saux, who was exceptional. I am satisfied with my level, even if I know I can do even better.”

Regarding her future with Célia Talano, she remains realistic: "If another tournament were to be done together, it would be with pleasure. But in competition, everything evolves, and partners change over the course of a career."

Célia Talano: “Our victory, a culmination”

For her part, Célia Talano had set a simple objective: to reach the final.
"When you see that Lou and Kimy have won almost every youth tournament over the past two years, we don't feel like favorites. We wanted to qualify for the final first. After that, in the final, anything can happen. With Loann, we each prepared on our own, but seriously."

The absence of the number 1 seeds in the final did not affect his satisfaction: "We did everything to play them as late as possible. Their surprise defeat changed things, but given the final result, it suits me very well!"

Talano is already thinking about what's next: "I always have the French team and the upcoming Junior World Championships in the back of my mind. It would be a great way to conclude my youth career. Afterwards, why not do some FIPs to face other players? It could be a great experience."

This victory also has symbolic value for her: "I often finished second in the TNJ or the French championships. So, for my final year, finally winning this title is obviously my best memory."

Clear about her level of play, she underlines the strength of the duo: "I tried to be solid and build the points. I knew that Loann also played her role well. She finished very well and we won all our matches like that."

As for the future of their partnership, the paths seem to be diverging: "It's going to be complicated to continue together since Loann is leaving for Spain and I'm staying here. Afterwards, you never know what life has in store for you."

By winning this French U18 championship,  Talano and Jovasevic  are turning an important page in their junior careers. This emotional victory opens up new perspectives: international football for Loann, and the French national team for Célia.

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.

On the same subject

Tags