Lou Lambert Agosti: at 18, a young Frenchwoman who is already taking flight on the international circuit

At only 18 years, Lou Lambert Agosti She is one of the young French players who are progressing quickly, without skipping any steps. She was spotted at FIP Bronze from Rivesaltes The Toulouse native continues her integration into the world of padel, navigating the international circuit, the demands of high-level competition, and the gradual development of a genuine career plan. Initially trained in tennis before switching to padel, she is now one of the players who embody the next generation of French players.

From tennis to padel, a shift made very early on

Like many players of her generation, Lou Lambert Agosti didn't come to padel by chance. It was through her former tennis coach, Brice Bernard that she discovered the sport. The man who is now the padel expert in Occitanie then directed her towards regional talent identification. At that time, the young player was already beginning to distance herself from tennis, in which she no longer found the same drive.

She sums up this pivotal moment simply: "I was a bit demotivated by tennis, so I switched to padel." A rapid, almost natural transition, which will very quickly take on another dimension.

In her very first year, she had a significant first experience with a selection in French junior team and participation in world championships in Mexico A turning point in his journey. This first experience wearing the blue jersey gave him a direction and, above all, the desire to fully commit to this sport.

Lou Lambert Agosti: at 18, a young Frenchwoman who is already taking flight on the international circuit

A gap year to structure his project

After graduating from high school, Lou chose to dedicate an entire year to her athletic development. This bold choice already reflects a certain maturity in her approach to her progress. Her daily life is now structured around several training bases, splitting her time between France and Spain.

She trains in particular at Vichy , at the National Training Centre, but also at Barcelona , where she works with Juan Alday This back-and-forth between two environments allows him to broaden his horizons, vary his methods, and confront different requirements. In his daily work, two names come up particularly often: Juan Alday et Baptiste Benetoux , the two technicians who follow her most regularly.

When she returns to Toulouse, the training program changes slightly, with more physical preparation and a greater focus on the game and matches. Behind this structure, there's also a very strong support network. Lou mentions in particular Léa Godallier and Baptiste as true pillars, almost a sporting family, on whom she relies daily.

A schedule now geared towards international competition

Even if it remains today 18th French player Lou Lambert Agosti is already looking beyond the national level. His schedule is now largely focused on the FIP circuit with a clear logic: to gain experience, reference points and knowledge against more established opponents.

She explains it very directly: "Right now, I'm mainly focusing on the FIP. I'm really trying to play more internationally." This choice inevitably impacts her French ranking, as she plays less in France, but she's committed to this path. Her priority lies elsewhere: accumulating match experience, learning, and understanding what still separates a young French player from the very highest international level.

This does not mean that she is turning her back on the French circuit. She still intends to compete in the major events, particularly the P2000 , some P1500 and of course the French championships But the season is now built around a series of races abroad. After Rivesaltes, his schedule notably includes Seville , then two tournaments in Italy , each time with different partners, often Spanish. It's also a way to break out of her routine and broaden her understanding of the game. In Seville, for example, she even has to play on the left to adapt to a left-footed partner.

Kimy Barla, a strong relationship over the years

On the junior circuit and then on the French circuit, it's impossible not to associate Lou Lambert Agosti with Kimy Barla The two players have built a strong relationship over time, evident both on and off the field. Their story goes back to a TNJ in Perpignan where they meet for the first time.

Lou remembers a player she didn't know, a player with a striking profile, already easily identifiable on the court. They faced each other twice in that tournament, shared the victories, and then stayed in touch. Very quickly, a relationship developed. They exchanged messages frequently, initially remotely, and then the idea of playing together naturally took hold.

What stands out in this relationship is both their personal connection and their complementary sporting abilities. They are the same age, share common interests, but also have different temperaments. And it is precisely this contrast that has fostered their understanding. In a circuit where partnerships can be very fluid, their bond has remained strong and genuine.

Lou Lambert Agosti and Kimy Barla: A year 2024 between progression and international ambitions

Youth competitions: a revealing experience

Even before setting her sights on the senior level, Lou Lambert Agosti honed her skills through international youth competitions. With the French national team, she participated in the european championships and World's Championships These are meetings that are very important in the development of a player.

Beyond the results, these competitions allowed her to face players of her own generation, something that remains quite rare in her daily life. On the circuit, she most often plays against older, more experienced, more established opponents. The campaigns with the French national team thus offered her a different perspective, another way to gauge her level.

The results were indeed solid, with two third places Each time, they finished behind the Spanish team. These performances are far from insignificant and demonstrate that this generation of French players knows how to perform in major tournaments. Representing France has also instilled in them a particular sense of responsibility: playing for a team, for a jersey, and not just for themselves.

World junior pairs: Fonteny / Boronad, Barla / Lambert Agosti and Peloux / Bernard in bronze in Reus

The French senior national team as a horizon

Naturally, after the youth, the logical next step leads to the French senior team Lou doesn't hide it: it's a clear objective. But she talks about it with perspective, without posturing, aware of the current density at the top of the French rankings and the experience accumulated by those ahead of her.

She knows that nothing is guaranteed yet, that her place is still to be built, and that she will have to earn it through her performance, her results, but also her attitude. This is a point she particularly emphasizes: the ability to demonstrate in matches what she produces in training, while maintaining impeccable conduct. For her, this idea comes up often: progress isn't just about playing, but also about poise, mindset, and consistency.

She is therefore moving forward with ambition, but without haste. If not immediately, perhaps next year. The focus is on work rather than urgency.

A major project in defense and mental strength

In its current development, certain areas for improvement have been clearly identified. The first concerns the to the defense Upon arriving in Spain, Lou was immediately placed in a very specific training area: track work, footwork, legwork, and movement. Juan Alday's message was clear: they first needed to build a more solid defensive foundation.

She recounts this episode with humor, but also with lucidity: “When I arrived in Spain, he put me at the back of the track and told me: ‘You’re going to move your legs and you’re going to defend.’” Behind the formula, there is a real technical challenge. Physically tall, she needs to learn to make better use of her size, to better coordinate her movements, to be more mobile in the lower phases as well as in transitions.

The work also focuses on more offensive areas, particularly her volleying and the quality of her vibora, which she aims to take higher and earlier. But the other major challenge is mental. Lou knows that her training level needs to translate more effectively into matches. To achieve this, she relies on specific coaching with Marjoram who monitors her daily on this aspect. The objective is clear: to achieve greater freedom in competition, without losing standards.

2026 objectives focused on progress

For what comes next, Lou Lambert Agosti doesn't get caught up in an obsession with rankings. She prefers to establish deeper, more lasting reference points. Her first objective for 2026 is not quantified: above all, she wants to be proud of her year, the work accomplished and the path traveled.

The French national team is obviously on her radar, but without becoming a constant source of pressure. What she wants to preserve above all is the joy of playing, the desire to keep progressing, and the ability to stay connected to what made her love the sport. In short, she has it all: an ambitious young player, mentally strong, already well supported, who knows where she wants to go without trying to rush things.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!