the essential
For the ladies, the final will pit two clubs from Val-d’Oise against each other: CSM Eaubonne and TC Villiers le Bel. Among the men, the Bordeaux team from Villa Primrose will face the Bretons from Quimperlé. The meetings will begin at 10 a.m.
Honor to the ladies with this 100% Val-d’Oise shock: on one side, CSM Eaubonne, leader of Pool A with three victories and a draw. On the other, TC Villiers le Bel, at the top of Pool B with two wins and two draws. The duel will kick off tomorrow morning, from 10 a.m., on the covered clay courts of US Colomiers Tennis www.uscolomierstennis.com. “Besides, in the ranks of Eaubonne, we may see one of our former players, Estelle Cascino (ranked – 15, Editor’s note),” recalls Didier Verriest, vice-president of the Columérin club.
On paper, the Eaubonnaises are banking in particular on the Tricolores Emeline Dartron (333rd in the world), Sarah Rakotomanga (340th, ex-member of Stade Toulousain), and Léa Tholey (French N.40). In the other camp, TC Villiers le Bel should be able to count among others on the Frenchwoman Julie Belgraver (366th in the world) and the Poles Weronika Falkowska (533rd) and Arina Vasilescu (711th). One thing is certain: the winner of this final will win their first national title.
Richard Gasquet in the colors of Villa Primrose
Conversely, among the men (tomorrow from 10 a.m., on indoor clay), the two qualifiers have already been crowned. In this game, advantage to the Bordelais of Villa Primrose, titled four times (2012, 2016, 2018, 2020). For their part, the Bretons of Quimperlé are aiming for a second star after that obtained in 2013.
Regarding team compositions, Richard Gasquet is defending the Gironde colors this season. During the preliminary phase, the native of Béziers took part in four matches, winning his singles match each time. The Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, currently 51st in the world (but former member of the top 10), is also on the list of Villa Primrose players. But at the moment, it has not yet been aligned.
For his part, Quimperlé should notably rely on the Slovak Jozef Kovalik (127th in the world), the British Jan Choinski (175th), the Hungarian Zsombor Piros (244th) and the Austrian Filip Misolic (283rd).
600 spectators maximum
Behind the scenes, a touch of nostalgia should float over the US Colomiers TC. “Obviously, by hosting these two Pro A finals, we think back to all the good times spent in this division with our men’s I team and our women’s I team,” underlines Didier Verriest. As a reminder, at the end of 2017, the Columérines lost in the final against ASPTT Metz. Then, a year later, the Columérins became champions of France.
Concerning the public, the limit is set at 600 spectators. “They won’t be able to access the clubhouse. They will go through another entrance to take their place in the stands,” explains Didier Verriest. Note that the two finals will be broadcast on the Youtube channel of the French Tennis Federation.
