The official press conference to launch one of the two French padel tournaments on the circuit Premier Padel (with Roland-Garros), was held Tuesday in Bordeaux. The opportunity to take stock of this anticipated event, with its strong points and expectations, less than three weeks before the start of the show (June 10-16).

Start of hostilities on June 9 with the qualifications

Preferred in Toulouse (ex World Padel Tour) this season by Premier Padel, Bordeaux knows it is expected. Indeed, the P2 which will be organized there during the second week of June must be a sporting and event (even commercial) success from its first edition. Especially since the contract was signed for five years with the reunited world circuit.

The qualifiers will kick off hostilities on June 9. The opportunity to start with the players, because the organizers (promoter Jean-Luc Baldelli, director Jean-Thomas Peyrou and associate consultant Michaël Llodra) have always placed them at the heart of the equation. The qualifiers will therefore meet the cream of the crop in the final draw from Tuesday, June 11, not to mention 5 pairs of wild cards (including one for women) granted in consultation with the head of high-level padel at the FFT, Benjamin Tison. This entire brilliant line-up (with a total of 200 players) will be confirmed on May 24 at 17 p.m.

The sporting spectacle is expected, but as always it will depend on the matches, the clashes and the pairs who will return to Europe on this occasion after the South American tour. “We all dream of a final on the level of the one between Coello-Tapia and the “Chingalan” in Asunción,” director Jean-Thomas Peyrou salivated in advance.

Jean-Luc Baldelli (promoter): “We expect a lot from the Spanish public”

As for the event itself, it will be one of the biggest indoor sporting spectacles in France. And there is still work to do. The most important is obviously ticketing, the crux of the matter. The 7000 tickets sold are mainly concentrated on Saturday and Sunday. The organizers are hoping for a boost in the final days, even if competition from rugby with a possible UBB match in Bordeaux that weekend is to be feared.

Subsequently, the organizers will have three days to set up the three Arkea Arena slopes, as well as the one outside on the forecourt of the stadium, but also the boxes, the village, or the partner and VIP areas. 150 million homes are expected to be reached during the various global media broadcasts of this event. "These are still fragile events because padel is still in its infancy, recognized the promoter Jean-Luc Baldelli, especially compared to football or rugby. This tournament must be long-term, in particular thanks to an accessible ticket office with tickets at €9. We expect a lot from the Spanish public who have gone from 10 to 4 tournaments this season on the Premier Padel »

In addition to the official men's and women's competition, many events will liven up the Bordeaux week, particularly around the themes of gastronomy, wine or the Olympic Games. The All Stars tournament is as eagerly awaited as the entertainment that will punctuate the changes of sides or between matches. "There is a lot of anticipation behind this tournament and we hope for a crazy week in this exceptional jewel of the city of Bordeaux," assumed Michaël Llodra, who admitted that he only plays padel for leisure, without wanting to be classified like his tennis friends Arnaud Clément or Arnaud Di Pasquale before him. Finally, some regretted the absence of a few Gironde communities alongside this first padel player in the wine capital, but no matter, the P2 Aquitaine rocket of Betclic Bordeaux Premier Padel is well underway.

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