Bayard and Vincent win P2000 Cabriès final

Damien Bayard and Pierre Vincent made history at the P2000 WinWin Padel Cabriès. The top seeds beat Arthur Hugounenq and Maxime Forcin in the final 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 after one hour and 38 minutes of play. The French pair thus secured their first shared title in the P2000 category and crowned a season in which they had already impressed at several P1500 events.

First P2000 win under historic format

For Bayard and Vincent, the triumph in Cabriès marks a decisive milestone. In their first shared P2000 final appearance, they not only lifted the title but also become the last winners of a P2000 under the previous historic tournament format. The pairing was already regarded before the final as the most in-form duo on the French circuit – now they confirm that role at the highest national level.

Facing them were two experienced players in Hugounenq and Forcin, who many observers saw as favorites. Hugounenq brought international experience as the best-ranked player in the draw, while Forcin was also defending the Cabriès title he had won the previous year alongside Benjamin Tison. Despite that starting position, the more consistent performance of the top seeds prevailed in the end.

Vincent sets the tone in the first set

From the very start of the match, the Bayard/Vincent pairing took the initiative. While Hugounenq and Forcin relied on experience and individual quality, the top seeds found their rhythm more quickly. At 3-2, Pierre Vincent made the decisive difference: offensively present from the first rally to the last, he forced the break that Damien Bayard consistently protected with solid and aggressive play.

On their own serves, Bayard and Vincent then remained composed. They converted their lead confidently and took the first set 6-4. Vincent acted as the engine of the pairing, while Bayard provided stability and pressure in the key moments – a division of roles that would prove effective several times over the course of the match.

Hugounenq and Forcin turn the second set

The start of the second set initially seemed to confirm the top seeds' dominance. Bayard and Vincent broke straight away and quickly led 3-1. But then the match turned completely. Heat and a dense tournament schedule with several consecutive matches took their toll: the favorites piled up unforced errors, intensity dropped, and suddenly the pairing looked vulnerable.

Arthur Hugounenq used that phase effectively. He increasingly took the offensive lead in the rallies and combined with a reliable Maxime Forcin to launch a strong counterattack. The two Frenchmen won five games in a row and turned the set around 6-4. For a moment the title seemed open again – but the third set would show that Bayard and Vincent possessed a different quality when it came to reacting after setbacks.

One-sided deciding set

Before the final set, both pairings looked exhausted. Long rallies, high tempo and the physical demands of the tournament weekend had taken their toll. But while Hugounenq and Forcin could not maintain the level of the strong second set, Bayard and Vincent immediately returned to their best form.

In the most important moments they made the better decisions and dominated the rallies. Vincent remained the offensive difference-maker, while Bayard delivered one of the strongest performances of the entire tournament in the closing phase. Despite Hugounenq's continued danger, the second seeds could no longer keep pace. Bayard and Vincent pulled away and closed out the match with a clear 6-1.

Scoreline and finalists' background

For Hugounenq and Forcin, reaching the final remains a strong performance even if they left empty-handed. Their path to the title match was demanding: in the semi-finals they battled Julien Motz and Guillaume Le Drap for nearly two hours and therefore invested significantly more energy than their opponents in the final act. For Hugounenq it is also a second consecutive P2000 final defeat, while Forcin was unable to defend his title in Cabriès.

Dominance on the French circuit

Their successes in recent months at P1500 level had already shown that Bayard and Vincent belong to France's most consistent pairings. With the win in Cabriès they raise their profile further and send a clear signal to the national competition. Their mix of offensive power, tactical discipline and the ability to react immediately after weak phases currently makes them the pairing with the most momentum in French padel.

The P2000 WinWin Padel Cabriès thus offered not only a high-class final with a dramatic course, but also a sporting conclusion under a format that will soon become history. Bayard and Vincent used the stage to claim their first major title in this category – and set a new benchmark for the coming season on the French circuit.