Clément Berthier

Interview:

What role does table tennis play in your daily life?

Well, at the beginning it didn't take up that much space. I was training twice a week until I was about 17/18 years old. During that time, I still managed to reach a certain level just by playing twice a week. Then, after my baccalaureate, I was able to join the Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes regional high-performance center. From that point on, I really spent more time training, and I also did more international competitions to progress and to be able to participate in the biggest tournaments.

What type of player are you?

In general, I finish points quite quickly with my forehand. On the backhand, I use long pimples. So that's more to disrupt the opponent and set up the game so I can use my forehand afterward.

Your advice for performing in table tennis?

To succeed in table tennis, I think you have to be rigorous, because it's really through training that you progress step by step and can maintain a good level.

What do you do outside of table tennis?

I'm studying alongside sports; I'm in engineering school. I'm lucky to have my schedule adjusted by my school. For example, this year I'm doing it over 2 years instead of 1. And from February onwards, I won't have any more classes until September so I can truly devote myself to table tennis.

What does table tennis bring to you?

It develops concentration, because it's very important during a match to stay focused for the 20 to 30 minutes that the game lasts. It's true that it also develops mental strength and stress management. A table tennis match is quite stressful, especially when the stakes are high. So yes, you have to learn to manage and master that so it doesn't penalize you.