Paratennis: successful bet at Balma League Center

The Toulouse-Balma Paratennis Tournament brought together sixteen players and four female players last week on clay courts for its 16th edition. It marked the first cohabitation with the tournament for able-bodied athletes, opening up new perspectives for the event.

“The participants in our paratennis tournament particularly appreciated being able to watch high-level tennis alongside the able-bodied players,” said Michèle Robert, Director of the BNP Paribas International Paratennis Toulouse-Balma by Sapiens (ITF 3 500 $), giving a highly positive assessment at the end of what was a unique 16th edition.

“Traditionally, our event takes place at the end of the year. But for this 2026 version, we decided to change the dates to March, still at the Balma League Center, during the same week as the able-bodied ITF seniors tournament (30 000 $). It is actually the first time that two tennis tournaments, one for able-bodied players and one for para-athletes, coincided in this way,” reminded the director.

At the start, the tournament gathered sixteen male players in singles and eight doubles pairs. However, only four female players, divided into a round-robin format, made the trip. “Of course, we would have liked to have a few more female players. Initially, there were five, but one had to withdraw. Nevertheless, everything went smoothly on the clay courts. It is important to note that this year we did not plan for the quad category (players with functional impairments in the lower and upper limbs),” summarized Michèle Robert.

In the men’s competition, Spanish player Enrique Siscar Meseguer (ranked 83rd this week), who had previously won in Balma, dominated the singles with a final victory (6-1, 6-3) against German player Christoph Wilke (72nd). The two players also faced off in the doubles final, with the German, partnered with Moroccan player Lhaj Boukartacha (the reigning singles champion), emerging victorious.

For the women, French player Sandrine Cauderon Paulin, who had won in the previous edition (in 2024), successfully defended her titles in both singles and doubles (this time with Austrian player Christina Pesendorfer). “I also want to mention Romain Boittiaux, a 21-year-old French player who won the consolation event despite only having two years of practice,” highlighted Michèle Robert.

“We have not yet set dates for 2027,” emphasized the director. “For now, we have not decided on the dates. Of course, we hope to have a 17th edition next year. But first, we will thoroughly debrief this one,” she added.

Behind the scenes, the director acknowledged the support of loyal volunteers and employees of the Occitanie League, as well as the students who assisted in various roles during the four days of the event. The spectators were also more numerous, especially for the finals.