Agde: padel madness has taken over the International Tennis Center

Depuis quelques années maintenant, le padel a pris son envol au CIT. Un phénomène qui s’accentue. PHOTO VILLE D'AGDE

The discipline is booming in Agde as everywhere in the metropolitan area, where land construction projects are multiplying. Symbol of this craze, Tennis Padel Cap d'Agde is organizing a P1000 tournament on the weekend of March 8, 9 and 10.  

They grow like mushrooms! For around ten years, padel tracks have been emerging throughout the city. There are now eight at the Cap d’Agde International Tennis Center, nine at the Domaine de la Vière, in Saint-Thibéry, a few units scattered in the villages, such as recently at Nézignan L’Évêque or at Player 5 of Bessan, while awaiting the construction (in progress) of a pretty private complex in Tourbes, a project led in particular by the former Piscenois rugby player Guillaume Taussac. A real phenomenon which took hold of Spain a long time ago, but from which the French are in turn taking advantage.

Easier than tennis

Padel teacher in Cap d’Agde, Mario Cordero even speaks of "an explosion. It’s an accessible discipline, with a smaller court and racket, which allows you to engage in exchanges quickly. We “prick” right away."

President of Tennis Padel Cap d’Agde, Guy Villequey is well placed to see the scale of the phenomenon. With these 630 members, the club is today the largest in the municipality in terms of membership. But if tennis players still represent the vast majority of these licensees – there are around 150 for padel – the situation is starting to change. "The padel is clearly taking over, while tennis is stagnating in the best case scenario”, he believes. "At home, there are players of all ages at padel. Some even gave up tennis, even though they were very well ranked."

A ninth pitch approaching ?

Here again, the recipe for success is known: "it’s less technical than tennis, less physical too. The field is smaller, we play two against two and then we quickly have fun." The reservation slots are so tight that the CIT is considering building a ninth pitch. Which, given the dynamics of this sport, would probably not be a bad investment.
 

A P 1000 tournament on March 8, 9 and 10 in Cap d'Agde

Tennis Padel Cap d’Agde is organizing a major P 1000 tournament on the weekend of March 8, 9 and 10. A meeting open to all of course, but which will also attract players ranked between 20th and 50th place in France.

Registrations on 06 50 75 25 68 or on the TPC Agde website.