In Reunion Island, in an exceptional setting, we found David MateoFounder Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box.Padel and one of the tournament directors FIP the most active in Europe. After two intense weeks during the first international tournaments organized on the island, he looks back on the organization, the behind-the-scenes, the anecdotes, his journey, his projects… and on the sometimes difficult reality of the evolution of French padel.

“We had a wonderful time, I’d never seen so many people.”

Franck Binisti: We've just come through two big weeks, two first international tournaments, and incredible popular success.

David Matéo: Yes, we had a blast, the crowd was won over. I'd never seen so many people right from the start, yet it was my 10th FIPEven at our first tournaments in Canet, where you were, there were a lot of people. But now, right from the start... 16th at Champ FleuryIt was impressive. That's what made the difference compared to other tournaments: often, the first rounds are a bit empty.

Mika atticthe boss of Réunion Padel The club had warned us: “For the P100, there are 200 people in the stands.” I thought he was exaggerating. He wasn't exaggerating at all. Yesterday, it was impressive: people sitting on the ground, standing, the stands were packed, the bar was full. That's why we're here too.

“We hesitated… but we did the right thing by going all in.”

Frank: It's true that before the competition, there were some minor controversies. Was it really necessary to organize these tournaments? At the same time, the FIP Platinum of Lyonand other parallel tournaments. You hesitated…

David: Yes, we hesitated a bit because we weren't immediately aware of the Platinum event in Lyon. It was a little disruptive, but Reunion Island was eager to get startedThey already host international beach tennis events, and they wanted to put padel at the heart of it. Today, everyone is delighted and we'll be back next year.

2026: Two FIPs already approved, and even a third?

Frank: The clubs already want to repeat the experience for 2026.

David: Yes. We rescheduled with the FFT to avoid clashes with Lyon. And then there's the Great RaidAn international event is taking place in Reunion Island: during this period, finding cars and hotels is complicated. Lhoucen, the owner of Champ Fleury, wanted to postpone it by a week. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) listened to him.
In the 2026 calendarThe last two weeks of October are reserved for two FIP Silver.

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A FIP Bronze “at home” in Perpignan

Frank: Heading towards Perpignan…

David: Yes, from April 6th to 14th, there will be the FIP Bronze of RivesaltesI finally have the club I wanted. I've left my civil service routine after 20 years. I'm incredibly happy. It's only natural to host an international tournament at home.

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Frank: You do it at other people's houses, so if you don't do it at your own house, there's a problem!

David: Exactly. It will be a Bronze, but in Perpignan...close to Spain... a Bronze player can be worth a Silver player in terms of skill level. All these unknown Spaniards, sometimes unranked, who are blowing us away...

The French level: “We are behind, but on the right track”

Frank: Can a Frenchman win this FIP?

David: I'd love that. The return of Thomas Vanbauce, and its exceptional semi-final. Julien Serin had a good tournament. Philemon Raichman with Yanis Muesser I was impressed. I didn't think they played that well.

Frank: What are the positive aspects of the evolution of French padel?

David: Ten years ago, there was 1400 licensees. Today : 100 000We were very highly ranked back then… today we’re worthless.
The young people are arriving: Yoan Boronad, Timeo Fonteny… This is serious.
We're behind Spain, but that's normal: they've been doing it for a while. 50 years that they play.

“Without the Spanish, it wouldn’t be the same.”

Frank: Is it better to bring in a lot of Spaniards or to focus on the French?

David: The French are great: when Elisa or Anna-blue play, it's madness. But the Spanish… they play better.
The public wants to see thatWe want our French players, but also incredible players capable of hitting par 3s while walking. Without them, it wouldn't be the same.

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“I don’t think any other FIP director has done 10…”

Frank: You've played in ten tournaments. Have others done the same?

David: I don't think so. Maybe. Jean-Thomas Peyrouwho played in big tournaments (Bordeaux P2…). Maurice together. The FIP Promises Paris.

“It all started in Canet… and I never imagined this journey would take me.”

David: It all started in 2021, when the Canet town hall He called me to organize a tournament with €8000 in prize money.

La Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Padel Cupwhich was the benchmark amateur circuit that everyone knows, at least in the south of France. That's how the town hall contacted me. I was organizing tournaments in Canet, P500. And the FIP Gold from Perpignan Also. In 2022, we did the FIP Gold in Perpignan, and again a FIP Rise On the beach, the same spot in Canet. What an incredible adventure.

Four years later, we are in Reunion Island, Mauritius, Bourg-en-Bresse, Lyon…
I never would have imagined that.

2026: FIP Platinum Marseille

Frank: Let's talk about Marseille.

David: I will be the director of FIP Platinum Marseille visit us at the Palais des Sports, 2 at 8 FebruaryI want to thank Julian Nazarian for his confidence. And of course Stéphane Penso, who needs no introduction, where we'll be doing the qualifying rounds. That was the only piece of the puzzle I was missing. Now all I have to do is compete with Jean-Thomas in the P2 category. (laughs)

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“I’ve lost friends… that’s my biggest disappointment.”

Frank: Have you had any difficult or challenging moments along this journey?

David: Yes, unfortunately. I don't know if it's French, if it is Perpignan area, Catalan… I did a lot in my department, a huge amount.
But unfortunately, when you do a lot of things and they work, when you succeed, you also stir up some jealousy.
When I come here, when I go to Bourg-en-Bresse with Alexandre Piquet or at LyonRegardless, people are delighted to have me. I was welcomed like a roi by Lhoucen, by Mika, by all these teams.
And it feels good.
Because in Perpignan, it's a bit more complicated. Especially now that I've opened my first club, and a second one is on the way. Competition isn't something everyone enjoys.
I've lost friends, people I cared about a lot. There are people who have hated me for a long time now, and who continue to do so quite well.
Those people have been wrong from the start, because I have a stubborn streak and I'm going to fight.

Frank: You say you've lost some friends. Is that perhaps your biggest disappointment today?

David: Yes. In fact, I've never considered padel as work. Working for your passion isn't work, it's fun.
At heart, I'm not an entrepreneur. I don't like it, I'm not like that.
Priority comes to the family, to friendsI tried to work with my friends. Some of them turned against me. For me, that's the biggest disappointment.
I'm starting a club, I have to pay back a loan, etc. There are lots of things. But that's not what motivates me.

And having lost three or four people in particular… Not having them on the phone anymore, not getting any more texts… That really pisses me off.

A second club by the end of 2026 / beginning of 2027

Frank: You're talking about a second club. When will that be? Where?

David: This club… We got the permit approved and cleared of all appeals in July. We're currently getting all the quotes; it's taking time. It will be at Perpignan SouthSo yes, we're not that far from a club that's very dear to me and that we all know: the MAS ClubI learned all my scales with Alain Henri, at the club but also during our FIP tournaments in Canet and Perpignan.
These days, Alain and I don't see each other much anymore. Our relationship is a bit strained. I'm torn. I understand, especially given this second club project. But how can I say no to this opportunity to acquire land?
I'm partnered with someone else who isn't involved in padel; he's in real estate. And this court, in that location, was still available. We had the opportunity, it was offered to us. We jumped at it.
He will open, with a bit of luck, late 2026, early 2027with a large restaurant and a large bar, eight air-conditioned indoor courtsLimited parking… All the qualities a club should have today.
In 2015, when we arrived, we were happy to see two outdoor courts. We just wanted to play padel.
Today, there are plenty of clubs like that. I think the future lies with this type of club.

Frank: A naive question: wasn't this an opportunity to build something with the friends you're talking about? To give back a little, in a place that made you, that built you?

David: I know… As a Perpignan native, I am grateful. I know that.
I know that the person who owned that land came to see me. He told me that he had initially offered the land to MASI don't think he lied to me.
And the MAS declined. I think Alain wanted to focus: it's his baby. He lives there, his parents are there, his children too. It's his haven, his baby.
And leaving that or doing something else… I don't think that's part of his DNA.
And no, I didn't officially suggest we do that together. Maybe I should have. We did talk about it, though.
Yes, things didn't go as planned. I regret it a little. But I hope we can talk properly again through tournaments.

Frank: You were talking earlier about the French players who are trying to get past the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but who are up against stronger opponents. What's missing?

David: Honestly? The timeWe are behind other countries, but that's normal. We discovered this in Perpignan, at the MAS, I think it was 2011-2012.
But in 2011-2012, they were already hitting hard in Spain. They had been practicing for 15 years.
So, time.
The French training system is good. The coaches of the French national teams are phenomenal. You have some incredible coaches: Loïc Le Panse, Jean-Thomas Peyrou, Yannick Maurel, Johan Bergeron and others.
And in Perpignan, private schools are doing padel in PE. That didn't exist before.

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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