An-Sophie Mestach and Astrid Dierckx among the world’s best at Circus Brussels Padel Open: “No, we are under no illusions” | More Sports
More sportsDuring the ‘Day of the’ on Wednesday 4 May, thanks to a wildcard, the duo An-Sophie Mestach and Astrid Dierckx will have the opportunity to measure themselves with the absolute world top in padel in the Gare Maritime in Brussels. “Entering the main draw of a World Padel Tour tournament will be a great experience,” said the enthusiastic duo.
An-Sophie Mestach (28) and Astrid Dierckx (34) have been a regular duo on the Belgian padel courts for two years now. In our country she belongs to the circle of top players. A good month ago she won a tournament for the Lotto Belgian Padel Tour at the Hangar Padel Club in Beveren. Dierckx is more of an all-round athlete. In addition to tennis, she also played korfball and she also played a few tournaments on the beach tennis circuit. Mestach was at the top in tennis. In 2011, she won the Australian Open in the juniors – she also became number one in the world junior rankings that year – and in 2015 she achieved her highest ranking on the WTA list with 98th place. After competing in a double mixed match two years ago, they decided to form a regular padel duo.
“It clicks great”, says the East Flemish Mestach. “We have about the same mentality, we communicate well in the field and we don’t criticize each other. In the first place we want to have a good time, but due to, among other things, selections for the European Championship and World Cup, it has all become a bit musical. In any case, it all went faster than expected for us. Astrid’s qualities? She reads the game very well and is always in the right place.”
It goes without saying that Dierckx is satisfied with Mestach as a partner. “An-Sophie’s feeling for the ball is great,” said the Antwerp player. “She plays aggressively and she has a famous power smash. In women’s padel, that is a strong asset.”
no illusions
Just like the best Belgian padel player Helena Wyckaert, who will join the Spanish Monica Gomez, Mestach and Dierckx received a wildcard for the main draw of the Circus Brussels Padel Open. For the men, the invitations went to two Walloon duos: C Geens/Jérôme Peeters and Alec Witmeur/François Azzola. These four couples will come into action on Wednesday 4 May during ‘Belgian Day’ in the Gare Maritime of Tour & Taxis in Brussels.
“We are among the, almost exclusively, world top and we have absolutely no illusions about the result,” said Mestach and Dierckx. “We’re just going to enjoy the total package. We get to taste the main draw on a stage of the World Padel Tour and play in a unique location. We can wait for something. Last year at the World Cup in Qatar we took on Alejandra Salazar and Gemma Triay, the numbers and two in the world. It was 6-0, 6-3. The level cannot be compared. Those Spanish padel players practice daily, we are amateurs. We are definitely going to enjoy the experience.”
The entire world top in padel can therefore be admired in Brussels from 4 May to 8 May. Info and tickets via www.brusselspadelopen.be†
The prequalifications and qualifications of the Circus Brussels Padel Open will be completed from Sunday 1 May on the YC5 tracks in Vilvoorde. The Belgian teams that received an invitation: Elyne Boeykens/Babette Wyckaert, Michelle Van Mol/Evelyne Dom and Sofie Oyen/Justine Pysson in the women’s and Jeremy Gala/Nick Braet, Alain Sassen/Dennis Mertens, Joris De Weerdt/Bram Coene and the juniors Xander De Wever/Isaac Huysveld among the men.
Also read:
Can you earn your sandwich with it? Will it be Olympic soon? How much does it cost to build a field? Twelve padel questions answered
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