In early December, two young French players from 15 years achieved the best performance of their young careers at Barcelona : Louis Cacheux et Victor Caby have reached the semi-finals of a tournament international, in the category above theirs, the FIP Promises U18 of Barcelona.

Today, we're going to tell you what went on behind the scenes of this adventure, which had all the makings of...exploitwhich didn't happen by chance. It all started with a defeat in Paris (FIP Promises Paris by WME), this autumn: the two young men lose in eighth finals of a tournament U16However, they feel they are giving their all against one of the best Spanish pairs of the category. As is often said, we learn more from one defeat than a victory. That's what's happening for Louis et Victor.

The ability to understand the game

Undeterred, the duo tried their luck again in a higher-level tournament, at BarcelonaBut this time, they are accompanied by the coach de Louis CacheuxHe trains all year round at Bilbaoalongside the former professional Andoni Bardasco.

“When I decided to accompany Victor et Louis In Barcelona, ​​it wasn't about trying something new, nor about chasing a result, explains the Basque coach. It was about giving a precise framework to an ambition that is still fragile and to confront these young people with the reality of the international competition ».

A deliberate gamble, because in the international padelThe level is such that a premature exit could also have called this choice into question.

For Andoni Bardasco, "in the modern padelProgress is not based solely on the talent, but on the ability to understanding the gameto accept the discipline and to take the right decisions "When everything speeds up." The former 25th in the world knows perfectly Louis Cacheux, which he trains at follow-up He knows what he can do, but above all, what he doesn't yet dare to do.

He watched the defeat afterwards Parisrevealing:
"The level was there. The match was winnable. Yet, something was missing. Not technique. Not desire. The conviction ! ".

It is this conviction that the move to Barcelona It was meant to provoke. The project wasn't just about playing in a tournament.
"The goal," he continued. Andoni, it was about placing two players of 15 years in an environment Listenerfacing older, more powerful, more seasoned opponents, and observing their ability to apply a planto stay disciplined and to accept the game as it unfolds."

This time, they know what to do.

Le FIP Promises U18 is anything but a comfortable context. Three rounds of qualifications, an entry in the main table from the round of XNUMXand a level of gameplay that leaves nothing to chance.

From their very first match in the main draw, the symbolism was powerful: facing them, the same pair who had beaten them at ParisSame adversaries, same generation, but a different story to be written.

Victor et Louis They don't play differently because they feel stronger. They play differently because they know what to do. The match is controlled and won. 6 / 3 6 / 3Not through a moment of magic, but because decisions are adjustments, assumed et repeated.

À Barcelona framing is total. Under the direction ofAndoni BardascoEvery detail counts. warm-ups are designed with upcoming matches in mind, the intentions are placed before entering the runway, the adjustments are constant.

But very quickly, something changes. The instructions no longer stay on the bench. They pass into the gameThese are no longer external indications, but choices made by the players themselves.

In the field, Victor et Louis They learn to read the moments. To understand when moving forward, when temporizer, when to accept the exchange and when to impose their rythme.

The message is simple, repeated, but demanding: to be solid et courageousThis involves blocking at filet when the pressure mounts, to rise despite the fear, to serve with precisionto use the footwork to keep the control.

Very clear instructions

Louis Cacheux He points this out lucidly:
“Andoni has contributed enormously to us, especially in terms of…” tacticSome adjustments really changed the course of very close matches and allowed us to remain solid. mentally ».

Victor Caby (also trained at My Center Palavas) emphasizes the clarity of the framework:
"The coach helped us enormously tactically with..." very clear instructions"especially at the start of the match."

But a tournament is not a linear demonstration. It is made up of second thoughts, tensions and moments of breaking.
“My mission was to support two players with different profiles, one of whom I don’t coach on a daily basis,” he continued. Andoni BardascoThis forced me to adapt my requirements ».

En quarterfinalThe match threatens to slip away from them. The bodies tired emotions Things get out of hand, decisions become muddled. That's when the framework regains its full value. Andoni He speaks frankly. The discourse is direct, sometimes harsh, but always fair.

La reaction is immediate. Victor et Louis They get moving again, regain control of the game, and turn the tide. Victory is snatched in an explosion ofemotions shared.

"Victor's volley falls one millimeter from the wire rack… When we saw the opposing player let go of his snowshoeing"I burst with joy," he recalls Louis.

For Victor"The emotions were incredible. The pressure transformed into adrénaline ».

The essential role of management

This adventure to Barcelona would not have been possible without the support of Serge, a discreet and passionate individual who took charge of theOrganisation and framing.

The tournament ends in semi final. Louis Cacheux is injured, the fatigue is very real, but the prevailing feeling is not that of a missed opportunity.

For Andoni BardascoThe result remains secondary. Without a framework, elimination could have happened much earlier.

Victor Caby summarizes the essentials:
"We've reached a real milestone" mentally, physically et emotionally ».

À Barcelona, Victor et Louis They didn't just win matches. They learned to steer themselves on a padel court, to understand the game in its wholeness and to assume their choice under pressure.

In padel, the talent opens doors. The let's go to gives it meaning. And when the players grasp it, the progress becomes real.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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