Andoni Bardasco de Padel Stuff returns with a sequence that has gone viral on social media: a spectacular point involving Bastien Blanqué et Maxime ForcinThe objective: to determine whether it was a stroke of luck or a perfectly anticipated action.

It all starts with a lobbed return of Benjamin TisonAs Bardasco explains, "very often, we advise our trainees to go back downstairs to avoid risks." The lob return of serve is always tricky to execute: it requires good timing and often exposes the player to a direct counter. But Tison, an experienced player, believes he has the perfect ball to attempt it. The result: the lob is a little short, giving... Blankedalready positioned at the net, an ideal opportunity to smash.

Faced with this attack, the defending team does not remain passive. The two players they reposition themselves and move slightly towards the centerAware that a counter-attack is possible, Bardasco emphasizes: "What's important isn't just positioning, but also body language." By raising their rackets, the defenders prepare to intercept a potentially difficult-to-control out-of-bounds ball.

Luck or strategy? Andoni Bardasco's tactical analysis

Despite good anticipation, the probability of successfully countering such a move remains low. But one detail will change everything: the player's body position against“He’s completely oriented to his right side, limiting his options to 50%,” explains Bardasco. This orientation gives Blanqué valuable information about the ball’s likely trajectory, increasing his chances of making a successful intervention.

So, was it just a stroke of luck? "Of course there's an element of luck involved; these are balls with a very low probability," the Spanish coach admitted. "But in sports, luck often favors the best, those who strive for success."

To illustrate his point, Bardasco cites an example from the NBA: "Kawhi Leonard's game-winning shot during the Raptors' last title. Yes, he was lucky that the ball bounced several times on the rim before going in. But it's always the best players, those who create opportunities, who end up benefiting from them."

According to him, Blanqué and his partner played their roles perfectly: good net coverage, responsiveness and coordinationThey were able to be present and ready at any moment to transform a defensive action into a winning move.

Andoni concluded: "In sports, lucky breaks are never entirely random. They often reward preparation, positioning, and the will to go for the ball. That's what makes the difference between a spectacular point and a mere fleeting success."

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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