Last Sunday on clay, at the Balma League Center, the Saint-Jean women’s team and the Ramonville men’s team were respectively titled ahead of L’Union and Gardouch.
“It’s a great competition which, for our modest level, allows us to have real challenges and strong emotions. » As explained by their captain Gaëlle Guilbert, ranked 30, the Saint-Jean players completed this Hermet Challenge on the highest note, last Sunday, on the clay court of the Balma League Center.
Trailing 2 points to 1 after the three singles, the Saint-Jeannaises reversed the situation in the decisive doubles with a score of 6-2, 6-2. “We lost two singles but each time there was a long battle,” insists Gaëlle Guilbert.
“Thus, the No.1 from the opposing camp did not line up for the doubles, probably exhausted by her match, and the No.3 seemed worn out. Conversely, we attacked this decisive double with our usual pair. I had won a much shorter match and my partner (Laure Lepine, 30/1) was fresh because she had not been lined up individually. Our fifth player (Muriel Gau, 30/2) played the role of coach on the bench, which is very valuable in high-tension games. It’s therefore a real collective title,” summarizes the captain of Saint-Jean, also surrounded by Marie-Béatrice Le Roux (30) and Maroussia Miniejew (30). Without forgetting “quite a few supporters on both sides, for a very nice atmosphere”.
The Unionaises remain “happy with our journey”
To illustrate the suspense of this final, we obviously remember the success of Union captain Mélanie Cagé (30/2) against Maroussia Miniejew, with a score of 15 points to 13 in the super tie-break.
“Yes, it was a close final. But we remain happy with our journey. During the two previous editions, we had been titled, then semi-finalists. I thank our loved ones, our coach and our supporters for making the trip, but also the Saint-Orens players, whom we eliminated in the 8th round,” comments the captain of L’Union, lined up on the match sheet alongside Régine Robert (30/1) and Laetitia Praynet (30/1).
“The title of Ramonvillois is logical”
Much less suspense among the men with the title for Ramonville against Gardouch with a score of 5-0. “We won the first two singles. Then we throw the third and at the same time the double. We won the latter in two sets, but our opponents led 4-2 in the second set. As for the singles, our third player won 10 points to 3 in the super tie-break. We thank again the people who came to encourage us,” summarizes captain Antoine Vigier (30/1), aligned with Frédéric Farbos (30/1), Valentin Peichot (30/2), Charles Maringe (30/2) and Philippe Didier (30/3).
In the Gardouch ranks, we keep our heads high. “There are some regrets, notably on my singles in which I did not play at my usual level. But the Ramonvillois title is logical. They showed excellent spirit. We hope, perhaps, to take our revenge next year,” concludes captain Lionel Enjalran (30/1), surrounded by Thomas Freulon (30) and Thibaut Papaix (30/5).
