“Refereeing a final at Roland-Garros is definitely memorable”, Montpellier resident Benoit Varin lives his passion as an international referee

Benoit Varin sur le court Chatrier à Roland-Garros. BV

Au tennis puis au padel, le Normand qui vient de s’installer à Montpellier a vécu des moments uniques en tant qu’arbitre aux côtés des plus grands joueurs du monde.

At 34, Benoît Varin has just had the best experience of his career as an international padel referee. In front of 13,000 people on the Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland-Garros, the new Montpellier native officiated the final of the Paris Major, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, between the two best international teams Coello-Tapia and Galan-Chingotto (6-2, 6-1).

Before getting there, the man who was born in Champagne-Ardenne and grew up in Normandy played tennis at a very good level in his youth. He discovered refereeing in the early 2010s, then climbed the ranks until he found himself on the world circuit. As a line judge, he participated in legendary matches at Roland-Garros.

“Un regard de côté d’Andy Murray”

He remembers the women's final at Roland-Garros in 2011 between China's Li Na and Italy's Francesca Schiavone (6-4, 7-6) or the 2019 men's final between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Austria's Dominic Thiem (6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1) and the famous semi-final, two days before, between Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer (6-3, 6-4, 6-2). “Refereeing a final at Roland-Garros is bound to be memorable. There's also the 2017 Davis Cup final between France and Belgium, won by Les Bleus (3-2). I also remember Andy Murray giving the Suzanne-Lenglen at Roland Garros a sideways glance over a disputed ball… It's also part of the game.”

In 2020, the health crisis arrived, time stopped and he took the opportunity to start his family with his partner. Benoît Varin then turned to padel and enjoyed the same success. From 2022, he refereed the Paris Major at Roland-Garros until the consecration last Sunday.

The one who has just put down his suitcases in Montpellier to be a padel coach at the Sud Padel Bel Air club in Vailhauquès has received his call-up for the world championships in Qatar from October 20 to November 2.

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