Toulouse. Rancezot: back on familiar ground
Became a coach after the end of his career in 2014, at the age of 20, Armel Rancezot returns this year Porte d’Auteuil, for the first time since 2012, as a spectator.
“Yes, I still have specific memories (laughs).” The answer comes from Armel Rancezot (27 years old) when we talk to him about Roland-Garros, more precisely about his two participations (2011, 2012) in the Parisian Grand Slam junior tournament. At the time, the native of Pau defended the colors of Stade Toulousain. Verdict: two eliminations in the first round.
“In 2011, I had played the double with my compatriot Sébastien Boltz. We had lost in the second round. But for our entry into the running, we had Dominic Thiem facing us”, recalls the former Stadiste. “Beyond the juniors, Roland-Garros was above all part of my dreams as a tennis player. Clay is my favorite surface. I also walked on these courts at Porte d’Auteuil during the individual French championships My best result was a semi-final. And for the record, in 2012 if I’m not mistaken, I qualified for these championships after winning the Midi-Pyrénées junior table, but also that of 2nd series”, underlines the ex negative (up to – 15; today he is ranked 4/6), who reached the 1,062nd rank in the world (in 2012).
“It was either Bordeaux or Toulouse”
As for Stade Toulousain, Palois joined the “red and black” colors in 2010. “To continue my progression in a club, it was either Bordeaux or Toulouse. The current went well with the leaders of the Stade. In parallel , I trained at the League Center with Patrick Vergnes and Marc Barbier, without forgetting Kévin Blandy for the physical part”, explains the vice-champion of European juniors by team in the blue jersey in 2011, coached by his father and also, at one time, by Frédéric Fontang (former 59th in the world), “my godfather”, and Yann Sivy in the role of physical trainer.
A chain of injuries
Unfortunately, Armel had to stop his career in 2014, at only 20 years old, due to a series of injuries. “At the end of 2011, I first had mononucleosis. Then, in July 2012, I had to deal with a stress fracture in the 5th metatarsus of the right foot. Rebelote in December of the same year with the left foot. Finally , in 2014, a shoulder injury led me to withdraw from the circuit”, details the one who activated tennis “before even knowing how to walk (laughs)”.
Armel has also followed his father’s path, racket in hand: “I first set up a ready-to-wear box with a partner. Then, in 2016, I took over the management and co-management of the my father’s club. I then obtained my coaching diploma. Our structure is called the Académie Pau Pyrénées. I am totally fulfilled there.”
On the other hand, it is a beautiful and well turned the page of the competition. “I no longer play in tournaments. But I enjoy other sports such as padel, golf and skiing. In any case, I have no regrets about the end of my career. For those of my generation who are still on the circuit, I am really happy for them. Today, the most important thing for me is to pass on my passion”, he discovered. This is called a successful conversion.