Thomas Leygue: “My craziest experience? Playing on central against Lebrón / Galán in Mexico”

At the WPT Human Padel Open 2023, Thomas Leygue responded to Padel Magazine. His memories, his flops, his tops, behind the scenes...

More motivated than ever

“I feel fit, I took a few days off before the tournament and I feel good. Also, the land is amazing, located in a beautiful complex. I think it's impossible for our game to go badly.

This course has very few flaws in my opinion. It offers good bounce, good luminosity, so it's perfect!”

Three memorable memories

“I couldn't choose just one memory, because there are two or three that are particularly close to my heart. It's the title of French champion that I won with Bastien, the bronze medal at the world championships, and Roland-Garros.

As for the worst memory, I would say my recent loss against Benjamin in Sweden, where I had 4 match points. It was a big disappointment and probably my worst defeat.”

(note. interview conducted before the European Games)

An unconditional fan of Roland-Garros

“My favorite tournament is Roland-Garros. As for the biggest prize I won, it was in Mexico, where I won €3.”

The perfect racquet

“My ideal racquet is the one I currently use. It should be in the shape of a drop of water. I don't like diamond shaped racquets and I hate round racquets. So for me, the happy medium is ideal. You also need the racquet to be very hard in the head and very light.”

A single broken racket

“I have only broken one racket in my padel career, and that was during training. I have never broken one in a match.”

Padel, a sport full of surprises

“What I like about padel is its spectacular aspect, the diversity of shots, and the fact that it is a unique sport.

What I like least are the changes in conditions that we encounter in tournaments and which are sometimes too different.

An unchanging routine

“Before each match, I follow a well-established routine: I start by listening to the same album (that of Djadja and Dinaz). Then, I start my warm-up with mobility and muscle awakening exercises. I systematically apply my cream and then I continue my warm-up to music before entering the match. This routine takes me between 30 to 40 minutes.”

My watch, my precious talisman

“I always have my watch with me during all matches. It's kind of my favorite object.”

An unforgettable experience

“My most memorable experience in padel, I would say, is playing in the central court against Lebrón / Galán in Mexico.”

Eleonore Coulibaly

What a pleasure to be a journalist in the padel world, an attractive sport in full expansion. I hope you enjoy the content offered. See you soon on the slopes!