Olivier Casalis is a happy president. All week his clubUS Colomiers Tennis (USCT) hosted a tournament ITF Juniors of category J30 where several hopes of French tennis were able to show themselves. Daniel Jade who is in the doubles final, the Francilien Thomas Van Den Dooren, 15, who is playing the boys’ final this Saturday. In addition, the club celebrated its 60th anniversary on Friday evening by bringing together the living forces of the association for a big evening. The president explained to us his motivations for welcoming these young international hopefuls and the future projects of his club, the largest in Occitanie with around 1,300 licensees and around twenty employees.
Olivier Casalis, president of the club, received Tennis Actu
“The national coach of Portugal has returned to our club”
This is the 4th edition of the Primavera junior tournament here in Colomiers, what does this event represent for the club?
The tournament brings us a good notoriety internationally. The club is now known in many academies, people come back every year with enthusiasm. For example, the national coach of Portugal comes with 9 players. This is the second time because the first time it went very well. The tournament also makes it possible to federate the volunteers of the association and to create an animation.
Are you celebrating the 60th anniversary of the creation of the club tonight?
April 1963, the club was in the city center in a sports hall with markings on the ground. Little by little, the club was structured. In 1981 we came here to the Cabirol park. 10 years ago the infrastructure was refurbished, the new complex has 9 outdoor courts and 7 indoor courts. We also have the project to build 3 padel tracks. Members want to play padel, private structures are saturated today. In 2024 I hope, I will invite you for the inauguration!
Did club players play the junior tournament?
In the qualifying table yes, which brought in a lot of people last weekend. The level is very high, the road is long. But this tournament is an example for young people and the very high level pulls everyone up.
“In 2018 we brought home the Pro A cup!”
The club remained famous for a title won in 2018 at the Interclubs in Pro A, do you have good memories of it?
Excellent! Laurent Recouderc was team captain. Had Benoît Paire, Kenny De Schepper, Dan Evans who resumed tennis after a break and Wesley Koolhof, now world number one in doubles! A team of fire, we brought the cup home. The previous year the girls had reached the final in Lannion. We are going to resume the Interclubs in the years to come but with players trained at the club, whom we see all year round. It’s going to take a little time, currently our teams are in National 1.
And do you plan to organize a Challenger or a Future like your friends from Stade Toulousain or Balma?
Priority to young people first!
