P1000 Metz: Motz and Ledrap turn final around

The top seeds, Julien Motz and Guillaume Ledrap, claimed the P1000 PadelShot Metz in commanding fashion. In the final, the favourites defeated Eliot Deknuydt and Loris Morvan, seeded third, with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2. With that victory, Motz and Ledrap confirmed their status as the strongest pairing of the weekend and left Metz with the trophy.

What initially looked like a tight final between two established doubles pairings developed into a match with a clear dramatic arc. After losing the opening set, the favourites turned the contest around completely and dominated the closing phase with unmistakable statistical superiority. For Guillaume Ledrap, the triumph marks his first title of the current season, while Julien Motz adds another P1000 success to his impressive tournament run.

Morvan and Deknuydt start strongly

The first set clearly belonged to the third seeds. Loris Morvan was in outstanding form, made precise decisions and excelled especially in the baseline game. Together with Eliot Deknuydt, the pair managed to neutralise the powerful smashes of the favourites for the most part and impose their own rhythm.

On the other side, Guillaume Ledrap visibly struggled to find his way into the final. While Motz still tried to build pressure, his partner looked uncertain and could not sufficiently slow the offensive momentum of their opponents. At 4-4, Deknuydt and Morvan seized the decisive moment, broke serve and closed out the set 6-4.

Motz and Ledrap were therefore under pressure for the first time in the tournament. Until this final, they had not dropped a single set and had presented themselves as the dominant force in the field throughout the weekend. The set loss was thus not only a sporting setback, but also the first real test of the top seeds' nerve.

Motz turns the match with left-handed power

The response from the top seeds did not take long. From the start of the second set, the picture on court changed fundamentally. Motz and Ledrap accelerated the pace, moved forward to the net more often and raised the intensity significantly. On the other side, Deknuydt and Morvan began to commit more unforced errors.

Julien Motz in particular gradually took control of the match. With his left-handed game, he delivered massive impact, produced numerous winners and repeatedly forced his opponents into defensive positions. Alongside him, Guillaume Ledrap also rediscovered his usual stability and looked far more present in the decisive phases than in the first set.

The score spoke for itself: 6-1. What had previously looked like a balanced duel developed within one set into clear dominance by the favourites. Motz and Ledrap had regained tactical initiative and left their opponents little room for their own offence.

One-sided final set with clear statistics

The third set repeated the pattern of the second. Motz and Ledrap played accurately, more aggressively and with noticeably fewer direct mistakes. The numbers at the end of the match underline that impression convincingly: the winners recorded 39 winners compared with 25 for their opponents and also held the edge with 26 unforced errors against 31.

Under increasing pressure, Eliot Deknuydt gradually ran into trouble. Errors piled up, offensive answers dried up, and the pair could no longer withstand the force of the favourites. With a 6-2 scoreline, Motz and Ledrap secured the title and completed an impressive comeback after losing the opening set.

Strong tournament weekend in Metz

In retrospect, the first set of the final remains the only moment of uncertainty for Motz and Ledrap in the entire P1000 PadelShot Metz. Before the title match, they had won every encounter without dropping a set, signalling early on that they belonged among the absolute top favourites at this level.

For Julien Motz, success in Metz is further evidence of his form on the national circuit. The player delivered another very strong tournament and adds a P1000 title as a significant achievement to his season. At his side, Guillaume Ledrap benefits from their well-drilled doubles chemistry and celebrates his first title of the current campaign with the triumph in Metz.

For Eliot Deknuydt and Loris Morvan, there remains a respectable performance despite the final defeat. The pair showed in the first set that they can compete at P1000 level when tactics and precision align. Against the concentrated response of the favourites, however, that performance was not enough to take the title home.

The P1000 PadelShot Metz therefore delivered a classic final picture: a tight opening, a clear turnaround and a commanding closing phase by the top seeds. Motz and Ledrap leave as deserved winners, while Metz once again proves that the French padel calendar offers high-class competition beyond the largest cities.

Key numbers at a glance

• Tournament: P1000 PadelShot Metz in Metz
• Winners: Julien Motz / Guillaume Ledrap (1)
• Final: 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 against Eliot Deknuydt / Loris Morvan (3)
• Winners: 39-25 in favour of Motz and Ledrap
• Unforced errors: 26-31 in favour of the champions
• First set lost in the tournament for Motz and Ledrap before the final