Jérôme Bécasset and Jean-Marc Herard will carry out daily a zoom on a league and its representatives for the French championships of padel au Padel Lyon Club (Padel Central). The Languedoc Rousillon league is under siege.
1 / Fitness trail
Line MEITES (LM): Tennis player since very young, I quit several years before taking up the racket around 23 years old… I passed my BE 1st then 2nd degree in Grenoble. I have been teaching in Toulouse since 2015, after spending a few years in Perpignan.
Emmelien LAMBREGTS (EL): I've been playing tennis for a few years now, almost 38, assiduously and regularly, some interruptions due to pregnancy, others to injuries. Classified 4/6.
2 / The discovery of Padel
LM: I had the chance to discover this sport almost 15 years ago, in Nice, then for 10 years I no longer saw or had access to padel until a summer activity of discovery and initiation, in St Cyprien. The following year, the TC du Mas built a plot for my greatest pleasure!
EL: Since 2013 at TC du Mas in Perpignan.
3 / Experience and Goals
LM: I've been playing regularly for 3 years padel with different male or female partners… as soon as my schedule actually allows !! I want to face players more often, because few girls play at the moment. We often have to play with boys; I think the game is different between girls!
EL: I left tennis in favor of padel, which is in my eyes, a very fun sport, friendly and accessible to a large audience!
4 / Which club?
LM and EL: Le Tennis Club du Mas, Perpignan
5 / Your partner?
LM: We started together… naturally because we already play tennis together as a team, unfortunately the opportunities to train together are rare.
EL: With Line we started doing local tournaments together from the start, we benefit from our experience in team tennis matches; and anyway, it's the best!
6 / Course during the regional qualifications
LM: There were only 3 registered teams… including a beginner team. It's a shame, we hope to meet more opposition next year.
EL: Qualifying took place over a day at the Grand Stade in Saint-Cyprien
7 / Ambitions and prognosis for the finals
LM: Go as far as possible of course !! Bring back the cup 🙂
In the longer term, I would like to have the chance to be able to train and progress to participate in international tournaments! I know very few girls so far in the padel… And I fear everyone, because I know that there is much stronger than us.
EL: For these final stages, we hope to go as far as possible and above all to have fun! Personally, I don't know the other teams because it's the first time I've done a tournament outside the Languedoc-Roussillon league, I'm more used to doing team tournaments / matches on the other side of the border , in Spain.
8 / Message for opponents
LM: Be careful, here we are. !
1 / Fitness trail
Jean Pascal PELLICER (JPC): Unlike many players from padel my tennis background is almost non-existent since I come from rugby and skiing. In rugby I was selected for the national team, in the juniors, when I was evolving at USAP. In alpine skiing, regional champion multiple times and 4th in the French junior championship in slalom and downhill.
Erwan NICOL (EN): When I was young I practiced tennis and ping-pong and then moved on to volleyball, which I practiced at a professional level. I then took up tennis again and started padelIn 2013.
2 / The discovery of Padel
JPC: It's been 3 years now, going to play a game of Squash at the tennis club of the Mas de Perpignan.
EN: I discovered the padel thanks to my club which is deeply invested in this sport, two years ago in Perpignan
3 / Experience and Goals
JPC: I became “addicted” to padel, I play almost every day (never more than 3 hours). Perspective: to improve myself obviously and especially to have fun to beat the Catalans of the south.
EN: My place is that of a person who takes pleasure above all and wishes to progress little by little.
4 / Which club?
JPC: In the splendid Mas club in Perpignan
EN: Tennis club le mas in Perpignan
5 / Your partner?
JPC: We started almost at the same time padel, we don't play all the tournaments together because we try to mix the teams, and to evolve with other players.
Why him ? quite simply because he is a good guy and he hits very, very hard! I prefer to have him as a teammate rather than an opponent.
EN: JP is not my usual partner, but he is a really nice person with whom I always have a good time, besides being a passionate and successful player.
6 / Course during the regional qualifications
JPC: On one day, everything went well for us, in the final we had a balanced match against the 2 Kevin's, whom I salute in passing. Here we are in Lyon. I just regret that my friend Alsina could not qualify.
EN: Nothing to report, everything went pretty well.
7 / Ambitions and prognosis for the finals
JPC: We are competitors with Erwan, we come to Lyon to honor our beautiful region. We know some opponents of course, there are very good players, Carité / Salles for example.
EN: To have fun and play against players from elsewhere. I only know very few players.
8 / Message for opponents
JPC: Be careful not to get a bullet from Erwan in the buttocks: it stings!
EN: May the best win
