Thomas Leygue: Emotions, challenges and French pride

The day after his great victory In the first round of the Greenweez Paris Major, Thomas Leygue spoke to the microphone of Padel Magazine on the challenges ahead: change of partners, end of season vision of the French team, World Championship in Doha as well as the controversy surrounding the selection of the United Arab Emirates.

A victory full of emotions

Padel Magazine : "We saw you very moved after the match yesterday. It was the second time you won on the Philippe Chatrier."

Thomas Leygue: "A victory like that on the Chatrier, in front of the public, family, friends, it's a great emotion. I was super happy, we played an almost perfect match, even if we had a little moment of doubt at the end of the first set. Otherwise, I'm very satisfied with the result and the level of play."

Padel Magazine : “How did you experience playing in conditions that weren’t really conducive to your style of play?”

Thomas Leygue: "I don't know if the conditions were not favorable for me, but they probably favored less aggressive players like Ignacio Piotto and Ramiro. Afterwards, I managed to find a point where I could use my smash, even if it didn't come out that much. I've been playing well for three months now, the results are starting to come in."

Padel Magazine : “No respite, however, you continue at 18 p.m. with your second match.”

Thomas Leygue: "I expected to play on Wednesday, to have a day off to be able to train a little, but hey, that's how it is. II hope there will be people in the audience at 18pm.. We will give it our all. We have a very complicated match, but among the seeded teams, it is one of the most accessible pairs, even if we start at 80/20 for them. But I'm happy with the draw, and we're going to give it our all."

Padel Magazine : "How are things going with Ignacio? At times, we felt that you were talking less to each other."

Thomas Leygue: "That's not really what I felt on the track. I'm quite prepared with my partners, but for example, the chemistry I can have with Bastien is necessarily different. With Ignacio, we have normal communication, everything is going well, and we are very happy to play together."

Changing partners, a mental burden

Padel Magazine : “The constant change of partner, how do you experience it personally and mentally?”

Thomas Leygue: "It's complicated, there is no project that is formed. In padel, people change partners every three or four tournaments. What is difficult is that I am in a ranking where I have trouble finding a partner. It is complicated to build a project over several tournaments or over an entire season. For the moment, I am adapting, I am looking for partners for each tournament. But it is especially mentally that it is hard. We want to find a project and nothing comes to us."

Padel Magazine : "Let's take the example of Valenzuela and Hernandez, two players with almost the same ranking, who have played a lot of tournaments together and who have been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Do you think you need to play with someone from the same generation to be able to shine in the long term?"

Thomas Leygue: " Today, The projects that work best are often those with players of the same generation. We see it with Coello/Tapia, and as you say with Pol and Rama. In general, when there is an age difference, it lasts a little less time. When the objectives are the same, it can last longer.

I thought it would work with Ignacio, but he decided to change partners after the tournament, so we'll see. For now, I'm looking, I don't have anything concrete. I'm a little unsure about partners., because I almost have enough points to get into the final tables. I've struggled a lot these last two years by taking players behind me in the rankings, and I'd like to change the situation, so that I'm the one being pulled up, and not the other way around, even if the level of play doesn't always match the points. We'll see.

Padel Magazine : "What has changed between the Thomas Leygue who first set foot on the Chatrier and the one today?"

Thomas Leygue: "I would say maturity, experience, having played on this court several times, and then the level of play. There was a lot of training, a lot of questioning, and many changes in my life. Today, I am more mature and I have more experience."

What's new in the French team

Padel Magazine : "What do you think of this new French Team with Manuel Vives and Timéo Fonteny called up for the World Championships in Doha?"

Thomas Leygue: "The selection is becoming more and more difficult. I know that there is a little more competition on the left than on the right. Today, there are perhaps six or seven players who deserved to be in the French team. I am very happy for Man and Timéo. If it had been Adrien Maigret or Jérôme Inzerillo, it would have been deserved too. It's Pablo who makes the decision, I fully respect his choice, and I'm very happy with this team."

It's going to be tough to defend this bronze medal. The goal is to finish in the top four, and a medal would be the cherry on the cake."

The controversy with the United Arab Emirates

Padel Magazine : "What do you think of the new United Arab Emirates selection with four Spanish players, Ayats, Icardo, Furtado and Jofre? »

Thomas Leygue: "I have a bit of trouble with that. I don't want to criticize everyone, but I am completely against this kind of practice. For me, you can't nationalize players like that, otherwise it will be world championships between Spaniards and Argentinians. I think that it is not good for the development of the sport. It is important that each nation develops with players of their nationality. Today, it is their choice, it is their values, it is they who have accepted not to represent their country. I would not have done it, but that's how it is. We respect their choice, as well as the decision of the FIP which accepts this kind of thing."

Padel Magazine : "Do you find it different from the Argentines who represent Italy, but who still have a family connection with this country?"

“I wouldn’t leave France for anything in the world.”

Thomas Leygue: “For me, it’s the same thing. I am very close to Aris Patiniotis, who is a very good friend, but I am against nationalizing the players.. We all have ties to parents or grandparents in another country. But today, when you decide to represent a country, you give it your all. These players, the day they have the opportunity to play for Argentina, they will leave Italy without a problem, and it will be the same for the Spanish in Dubai. I don't think they are proud to represent the colours they wear, but maybe I'm wrong. For nothing in the world would I leave France and I will always represent my country."

A big challenge awaits Thomas and his partner this afternoon. At 18 p.m., they will face the tournament's No. 15 seed, Xisco Gil and Juanlu Esbri, with a single objective: to thrill and ignite the audience at the Philippe Chatrier court. Follow the meeting live on the YouTube channel of Premier Padel.

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval ball, round ball and also racket sports, he was bitten by padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a passionate fan of the little yellow ball.