Jessica Ginier et Carla Toully are the first to qualify for the final of the French Championships 2024 after a demonstration against Lucile Pothier and Charlotte Soubrié. A victory in full control 6/2 6/2 in just over an hour of play.
At the end of the match, Jessica Ginier and Carla Touly looked back on this “special” match and the rest of the tournament. Carla also looked back on their performance in FIP Rise Bandol and Jessica on the rest of her career…
On the road to the long-awaited women's final
Jessica Ginier: “We played a great game and we are very happy. People were waiting for us, with the long-awaited final against Alix [Collombon] and Léa [Godallier]. The first objective has been achieved but, of course, we don't want to stop.
Carla Touly: “Alix and Léa are used to playing against girls who have a very high level so I don’t think they’re afraid. They’re going to go all out in their match and they know they’re going to have to give it their all because we’re not going to give up, we’re going to fight on every point.”
A special semi-final
Jessica Ginier: “It was a very special match because we were both playing our former partners. I came on the pitch and I was very tense… But we knew we had to put intensity, not let ourselves be overwhelmed by emotions, that’s where our strength lies. We managed to put that in place from the start so it was perfect.”
The impact of the FIP Rise Bandol
Carla Touly: "The FIP Rise in Bandol was a turning point for us as a pair and for me also as a player. The first day in Bandol was very complicated but from the semi-finals, we had a click.
I've felt it for two weeks, I'm having a lot of fun on the pitch, which I had lost a bit in recent months. We're playing well at the moment because we're having a lot of fun. I look forward to starting every game whereas, this summer before each meeting, I was not at all in this state of mind.”
The sequel to Jessica Ginier?
Jessica Ginier: “The next step now will be in November with the World Championships in Qatar. For my personal next step, for the moment, I don't have an opinion…but everyone knows that at some point I'm going to have to slow down with work and family life. I'm lucky enough to be able to play and have fun, but the travel is quite tiring.
We don't know, I might want to continue but for the moment, we're not necessarily going to do that."
Anti-doping controls
Jessica Ginier: “I have already done an anti-doping test in Marseille but I can't remember when. It was during a P2000, he caught us at the end of the match to do the anti-doping test.”
Carla Touly: “I have never done an anti-doping test on the international circuit but it is good to have some because it also means that the sport is becoming international.”
The full post-match interview:
It was her brother who one day told her to accompany him to a padel court, since then, Gwenaëlle has never left the court. Except when it comes to going to watch the retransmission of Padel Magazine, World Padel Tour… or Premier Padel…or the French Championships. In short, she is a fan of this sport.