Present at Garden Rennes last Saturday to participate in the 10th stage of the Cupra Padel-Point Tour, the 9th French Yann Auradou, has agreed to answer our questions about his start to the season, his mission with the FFT and the upcoming deadlines.

” Manu left for an internship in Spain and when he came back it was not the same “

Padel Magazine : You had a pretty good start to the season, punctuated by a victory at Mas de Perpignan alongside Manu Vives during the latest P2000. What has changed for Manu and you in your game and mentally?

Yann Auradou : “In reality, we didn't have a very good start to the season with Manu. He was coming back from injury, so at first it was a bit complicated because we weren't seeded in the draws. We didn't start very well.

But in fact what happened was that Manu left for an internship in Spain and when he came back it was not the same (laughs). In Perpignan we lost a set on our first round, and then afterwards it was just incredible: all of Manu's smashes came out, he “defended the steel”, I was playing very well too. We really had an exceptional tournament, of course we took advantage of the absences a little but the absentees are always wrong (laughs), too bad. We took advantage of it and there was still a lot to beat, no team was easy to beat.

We played very well and the final victory was all the more beautiful.”

Manu long live yann auradou fft padel tour Perpignan P2000
Lying Yann Auradou and Manu Vives during their final victory at the P2000 du Mas

Padel Magazine : After this prestigious victory, do you aspire to other successes of this "caliber"? 

Yann : “Yes, I plan to win the P2000 at the Pyramids, so it's good that you ask me the question (laughs). Without lying, if there are players of the caliber of Ben Tison who make the tournaments and/or who come with Spanish players it could be very complicated, because they are still a lot ahead of us. I trust my partner and I trust myself, I think we can beat big teams in one game.

I am very confident for the P2000 of the Pyramids, and for us to tell everyone that it was not an accident or a surprise at the P2000 of Perpignan and that we intend to remain among the best.

The Auradou-Vives pair still relevant in 2023!

Padel Magazine : We know that Manu has planned to do a freelance job in Spain in order to perfect his game. We wanted to know where the two of you were at? Is the Auradou-Vives pair still relevant? 

Yann : ” The pair remains relevant, there he is going to Spain but we will stay together for the P2000s and the 2023 French championships. Knowing that I started with him, he was very poorly ranked, even if he overtakes me with all his training well he will do me the honor of staying with me (laughs). He's going to pay me back a little bit!

Of course we won't do the P1000s together because he won't be coming back to France for all the P1000s, but in any case the P2000s and the French championships are planned to be done together."

” Create more trails and schools of padel in the north "

Padel Magazine : You are a member of the Mission Padel with the FFT. How are things going for you?  For our readers, can you tell us what your job entails? 

Yann : “Very concretely the mission was born in January, so at the beginning very generally we had to call the leagues. The goal was to really develop youth activity throughout France. I mainly deal with the northern regions, Christian Collange, my colleague, deals more with the southern regions. In the South, he had already worked well for a few years so it's a little easier than in the North. There are also a lot more tracks in the South than in the North, so it's much easier to create events and schools of padel youth. That's kind of what I'm trying to put in place in the North. It's going to take a little longer, but once it gets going it's going to be something.

In any case, this sport appeals to everyone, all generations, and that's why it works well.

Padel Magazine : From your much more internal point of view, do you feel a certain evolution of the padel French with in particular the first edition of the Greenweez Paris Premier Padel Major at Roland Garros?

Yann : “This event at Roland-Garros was incredible. The fact that he is on TV is something that is obviously very important. Certainly the padel does not pass (yet) on the public channels, there it passes on Canal + (for a year soon) and that alone really allows to develop the activity.

I know that this tournament will be renewed and I think that at some point the padel will be on TV on a regular basis along with other sports that occupy the front of the stage, perhaps not only on Canal +, but at some point on the other channels as well. "

The number of tracks of padel : the key to catching up with countries like Spain, Italy or Sweden

Padel Magazine : What do you think is the key for the padel in France can pass this course, and become a sport as popular as in Spain, Italy or Sweden for example?

Yann " If we take the example of Sweden, Italy and/or Spain, the tracks of padel there grow much faster. They build at an incredible speed. That's really what we're missing today, it takes a little longer in France.

It will come, but we are a little behind these three countries and I think we shouldn't fall too far behind them either.

The Cupra Padel-Point Tour, “It really affects everyone and all generations!”

Padel Magazine : Today we meet at the Garden of Rennes as part of the Cupra Padel-Point Tour, how was the connection with you? What does this circuit inspire you? 

Yann : “So I already knew about it through my sponsor, who is none other than Wilson. Like the Cupra Padel-Point Tour is sponsored by Wilson too, obviously it helps to know about great events like this.

I had done the P500 and the exhibition at the Pyramids, Melissa had asked me if I wanted to do it and I had accepted with pleasure. What I find great is that it's very well organized, it's a real change from the P1000 tournaments which, from time to time, show organizational flaws. The event brings people back, it's not just the matches of padel : there are a lot of animations that are around, and that's really what I like. What's also good is that it doesn't just affect the elite: there are P100/P500 tournaments, so it really affects everyone and all generations. ! "

Yann Auradou Melissa Martin Cupra PPT Rennes
Yann Auradou and Melissa Martin during the Cupra Padel Point Tour Rennes

” I am 9th French and there are only 8 who will be in the list "

Padel Magazine : The next few months will be punctuated by major events such as the P2000 des Pyramides, the French championships… but I wanted to come back with you to the Worlds in Qatar. Do you think you can claim a place among the 8 selected?  

Yann : “Do I have the level? My ego tells me yes (laughs). No, after it's been a long time since I faced some, because now they do FIPs and come much less to the big French tournaments. So I hope to see a little bit at P2000 (of the Pyramids) to measure myself against them. To be honest I had the level last year, I think I could have been there. This year...it's complicated because the guys are investing more than me: they have more time, they do FIPs, they play players who play at a much higher level than what you can find in France. They take experience… and then I'm 9th French and there are only 8 who will be on the list. So it would be logical for the first 8 to be taken.

I don't have anything more than them, well I don't think… in any case I hope for the French team that it will be the 8 best who will be selected. Afterwards if there is one who is injured, or who does not feel well, of course the coach can count on me and I will be 2000% to represent my country!”

Nasser Hoverini

Passionate about football, I discovered the padel in 2019. Since then, it's been crazy love with this sport to the point of abandoning my favorite sport.

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