The municipality of Mantes-la-Jolie inaugurated a newly constructed tennis and padel facility on the Isle l’Aumône, naming the infrastructure after Yannick Noah. Actu reported that the municipal council voted on September 28, 2026, to honor the 1983 Roland-Garros winner and former Davis Cup captain, culminating in an official opening ceremony attended by the athlete on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Inauguration Ceremony at Île l’Aumône
Construction on the sports complex finished during the summer of 2026, adding three covered tennis courts and two padel courts to the local infrastructure. Mayor Adama Gaye hosted the opening event alongside Stéphane Mancuso, president of the Association sportive mantaise (ASM) tennis and padel club. During his opening speech, Gaye addressed the tennis star directly, stating that the new venue would push the community to match the standards represented by his name. Adama Gaye also noted that Yannick Noah brought tennis where it was not expected.
The municipal government intends for the facility to remain accessible to all demographic groups, including neighborhood youths, female and male players, and athletes with disabilities. The complex incorporates ecological features such as rainwater management systems, natural building materials, and climate regulation technology designed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures across all seasons.
Noah thanks town council for naming facility
Addressing the gathered crowd and municipal officials, Noah responded to remarks about his 1983 Grand Slam victory with humor. He noted that many attendees and young players were not yet born when he lifted the trophy at Roland-Garros, telling the audience that their parents remembered the milestone. Noah expressed gratitude toward the town council for the gesture, remarking that seeing one’s name on public sports facilities remains a unique experience, adding that it is a sign of friendliness and that he tries not to get too used to it, before concluding his speech by thanking them for thinking of the old Yannick Noah. Noah also signed tennis balls, rackets, and newspapers.
According to local reporting, the event drew mixed reactions from the youngest members of the ASM tennis and padel club. While parents of the junior members welcomed the tennis legend’s appearance, many children were unfamiliar with his career achievements. A young girl even greeted the guest celebrity by calling him the mayor. Several parents noted that they had to point out his photo on tennis agenda books to explain his historical significance to their children. Following brief speeches and a ball-signing session, many of the younger participants gravitated immediately toward the new courts and the catered reception. Adama Gaye stated that this was not a problem, viewing it as symbolic.
Mantes-la-Jolie aims to invite Noah annually
Club president Stéphane Mancuso and Mayor Adama Gaye both expressed a desire during the ceremony to invite Noah back to Mantes-la-Jolie on an annual basis. Municipal leadership views the facility as a bridge between traditional tennis development and the popularity of padel, aiming to foster both athletic excellence and community participation across the Yvelines department.
The newly christened Yannick Noah tennis and padel hall on the Isle l’Aumône remains open for regular club scheduling and community programs managed by the Association sportive mantaise.
