Coach at the Bailly-Noisy Tennis Club (78), TFP/DFMP trainer at the Ile-de-France League and former French No. 8,  Yann Auradou is the co-captain of the French boys' team  recently won a silver medal at the Euro. He looks back on this campaign led with the U14s, U16s and U18s. 

Our wish granted with Spain in our group

 Alexia Dechaume draws a very positive assessment of the last Euro. How did you, the co-captain of the boys, with Yannick Maurel, experience this competition, where we finished as silver medalists? 

"Obviously in a very positive way, even if there was a lot of stress. First of all, I could see that the general level of the competition was good. Of course, there were some small teams, like Germany and Switzerland, who are at the beginning of their development. But from the quarter-finals onwards, the level was very consistent, with Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal... and of course Spain, who are always a notch above."

 How did the competition go, seen from the inside? 

"Already, before the competition, there was the episode of the draw. France was seeded 5 and we didn't know which group we would be in. Our wish was to be placed in the Spanish group from the start, in order to play them straight away and only have to potentially meet them again in the final. We were granted our wish: at the end of the draw, we were super happy to be with Spain and had a big satisfied smile on our faces... The other teams looked at us strangely, they didn't understand! After that, we had to do the job..."

There are no referees and therefore disputes often arise.

 Can you tell us about the boys' journey to the final? 

"In the first two matches, in the group stage, we won against Germany and then Switzerland. Against Spain, we knew it was going to be tough: we lost 3-0 but we could see that the level was not as high in each category. In the U14s, there was still a big gap between them and us. It was a little less true in the U16s. As for the U18s, we were up to par in the competition, especially since Spain did not come with their number 1, David Gala (engaged in the previas of the P1 of Madrid). Then, in the quarter-finals, we meet Italy. They are clearly our rivals, with them we know that it will be war on the court, with sometimes very, very heated moments. Since there are no referees, there are disputes galore and we often give points back... In short, it's tense. In the U14s, we start by losing the first set before coming back and winning the next two. Then, in the U16s, we do the job: 6/3 6/4. It's still a stressful match because in the second set, we lead 5/2 before being caught at 5/4. We conclude at 40A, on a decisive point, a par 4 from Jérémy... Afterwards, it was cooler.

Spain in the final: objective achieved… but big battle

 In the semi-finals, we play the Swedes: is it a strong team? 

"Yes, we knew it was tough. We didn't know their U14s and U16s well, we hadn't seen them play. In the U14s, we started the match well: we led 7/6 5/1 before our opponents came back. We missed match points in this second set, and we found ourselves in the third set... There, it was tough. The third set was tight, we managed to break them at 5/4 for us, but I really got a few gray hairs (laughs)! Afterwards, with the U16s, it went better. Olivier (Guy de Chamisso) and Jérémy (Robert) played a great game that they won 6/2 6/1... I really didn't expect it to be so easy. In the U18s match, on the other hand, we lost by abandonment at 7/5 4/4. Yoann (Boronad) felt a slight contracture in his glutes, he didn't insist in order to preserve himself. »

"In the final, we find Spain. This time, our objective has been achieved, because we were aiming for the silver medal and we got it. We are approaching this match very focused: of course, we took a little beating in the group stage against them, but in sport, we know that anything is possible. We really want to look them in the eye, try to get into their faces. With Yannick (Maurel, co-captain of the team) and Benjamin Tison (responsible for high-level sport), our speech is centered on attitude. In U14, we are beaten 6/2 6/2: they are above, but it is still better than the group stage. In U16, we make a big first set, which we lose 6/4. Opposite, one of the players evolves at a level that I place between 80^e and 100^e at the FIP… The other plays 100-120 FIP! There is a lot of intensity in this match, we lose this first set, but we are at the level. In the second set, on the other hand, they go into second and we take 6/1…”

 Victory on the 3  ^e final match: a historic first! 

"We just lost the final, but we expected that. On the 3^e and last match, we achieved a great performance, a real feat by beating Francisco Cabeza and Alejandro Calco 7/5 2/6 7/6. As Yoann Boronad is still feeling the strain of his contracture, we line up Thomas Basso alongside Timéo Fonteny. We quickly see that they are very focused and that the conditions are good for us: it is hot, the ball comes out well on Timéo's smashes, who masters this shot very well. As for Thomas, he is 2 meters tall and is therefore difficult to lob. In the end, it is the first time in history that a French pair beat a Spanish pair in a tournament, all categories combined. At the end of the match, the Spanish came to congratulate us. They told us that they no longer had as much margin as before against us, and that they were not confident for the years to come... The fact of having earned the respect of Spain is for me, for us, a great satisfaction. But it also means that in the future they will tighten the screws and it will be harder to beat them."

 How can we explain these excellent results? 

"I agree with what Alexia (Dechaume) said in your columns: whether in U14, U16 or U18, the guys play every day. They develop projects earlier and earlier. For example, you should know that two of our U18s, Yoann Boronad and Timéo Fonteny, are at the Nox Barcelona Academy. As for Olivier Guy de Chamisso (U16), he trained this summer at the academy in Malaga. These players go on the circuit, winning matches and tournaments. like the P1000 of Palavas won by Jérémy (Robert) and Olivier (Guy de Chamisso), gain experience. In the end, it always pays off!”

French Young Boys Team

Frederic Theulé

Not a day goes by without a line… of padel court! For a few years now, Frédéric has decided to devote himself to his lifelong passion: the little yellow ball and its merciless world. Addict, did you say addict?

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