The padel court of the Ambertois tennis club (TCA) has just been given a roof. Equipment that has become essential to be able to practice this sport which is growing significantly within the structure.
Padel has experienced exponential popularity at the national level in recent years. And in Ambert, the interest it arouses follows the general trend. “Of our approximately 140 members, 70 only practice padel, explains Sylvain Sauvade, president of the TCA. Thanks to padel, we have doubled the number of our licensees and we have brought in young people who would never have come for the tennis alone. And then, we have football players, basketball players, members of the badminton club. In fact, padel attracts a whole bunch of athletes.”
An “11 months out of 12” practice
Figures which quickly suggest that a single padel court will not be able to meet demand. So, first step, covering the existing ground for a practice thus made possible eleven months out of twelve. Because, as Sylvain points out, “very heavy snow can penetrate the pitch from the side. But with the roof, it is still much better than an uncovered pitch which can only be used in case good weather.”
The “madness” of padel takes over Auvergne
This roof is financed thanks to the help of the National Sports Agency as part of the 2024 projects and the rest is the responsibility of the club. If padel has become so popular, it is because its practice is friendly. It is practiced by four people, does not require great technique:
“We can have fun right away,” emphasizes Sylvain. “It’s very fun.”
Sylvain Sauvade (TCA President)
With this growing success of padel, club officials are considering the installation of two additional courts for the practice of this sport. Padel lessons should also complement the TCA offering and thus add to the tennis school’s already existing lessons.