“Semi-disabled”, Yannick Noah talks about his injuries and his new role in para-tennis

Former world number 3, Yannick Noah still remains today one of the greatest figures of the French tennis. Revealed in the 1980s thanks to his spectacular style, his immense popularity and his infectious energy, he definitively entered the history of French sport by winning Roland-Garros in 1983 against Mats Wilander. More than forty years after this feat, Yannick Noah still remains the last Frenchman to have won the Parisian tournament in men’s singles, a status which continues to nourish his legend among the public.

“Semi-handicappedâ€: Yannick Noah talks about his physical after-effects at 66

At 66 years old, Yannick Noah continues to keep sport at the center of his daily life. Cycling, golf, regular physical activities… the former top athlete refuses to remain inactive despite the years that pass. However, the winner of Roland-Garros recently told Le Figaro that he now had to deal with several physical after-effects linked to a serious injury that occurred two years ago. “Two years ago, I suffered a total rupture of my hamstrings while playing football with the Variety Club de France. I was sad†, he says with great frankness. A particularly serious injury which forced him to follow a long period of rehabilitation.

True to his very active temperament, Yannick Noah nevertheless admits to having resumed certain activities a little too quickly: “I had about sixty days of rehabilitation planned. I made forty. As soon as I could cycle again and play golf, I stopped.†Today, the former champion humorously admits to having become “semi-handicapé†, even if he claims to be much better. If the young father explains that he was relatively spared from very serious injuries during his professional career, he recognizes on the other hand that mental fatigue had ended up becoming difficult to manage over the years. “If I stopped at thirty, it’s not for nothing, I was a little overheated on the circuit†, he also confides in this interview.

Visually impaired, blind, wheelchair tennis… the new mission that excites Yannick Noah

Now far away from high-level competition, Yannick Noah seems to have found a new mission that is particularly close to his heart: para-tennis. Very invested in the organization of courses and in the preparation of the 2028 Olympic Gamesthe former Davis Cup captain now supports several adapted disciplines and works closely with athletes with disabilities. “I am responsible for everything para-tennis. So, it’s not just wheelchair tennis, it’s also the hearing impaired, the visually impaired, the blind…†, he explains with enthusiasm. A role in which Yannick Noah seems particularly fulfilled, he who is now increasing his commitments around inclusive sport and transmission.