Captains of the French pickleball team: Dhenin and Hernja for Vietnam

The French pickleball team is entering a new dimension. As announced by the official account@francepickleball, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) has designatedCaroline DheninAndMylène Hernjacaptains of the tricolor selection for thePickleball World Cup 2026, from August 30 to September 6 in Da Nang, Vietnam. Just a few weeks after the ministerial recognition of pickleball and the organization of the first French championships, the FFT is sending a clear signal: to structure a credible national team and support the best French players on the international scene.

Two complementary profiles for orders

The nomination is based on a distribution by age categories, aligned with the international tables.Caroline Dhenincaptains the French teamSeniors (+19 years)and will also manage international and European competitions in the discipline.Mylène Hernja, pickleball expert within the FFT, takes the lead in the selection+50 years, men and women.

This organization makes it possible to cover most of the French competitive spectrum without mixing the physical and tactical requirements of the different categories. In pickleball, the senior and +50 tables concentrate a significant portion of passionate licensees in France: having captains identified in these brackets reinforces the readability of the federal project.

Caroline Dhenin: from the WTA circuit to the head of French pickleball

Caroline Dhenin does not arrive at the station without baggage. A former professional tennis player, she reached the3rd round of Roland-Garros in singlesin 1997 and theUS Open doubles quarterfinalsin 1998. Best WTA ranking:141st in singlesAnd49th in doubles. This experience of high level and international calendars weighs heavily when it comes to preparing a team for a World Cup.

Passionate about pickleball for several years, Caroline Dhenin is todayFFT provider, responsible for developing the discipline alongside Florian Lecerf and Loïs Massiel. A practitioner at TM Olliolais in the Var, she contributed to the rise of the federal file before official recognition. Its hybrid profile, competition + structuring, corresponds exactly to the moment that French pickleball is going through: moving from the grassroots craze to assumed sporting governance.

Mylène Hernja: educational expertise at the service of +50

Mylène Hernja is a recognized figure in the French pickleball ecosystem.Discipline expertfor the FFT, it is involved in training and support for supervisors, particularly via continuing training systems. Her educational roots complement Caroline Dhenin’s more “international competition” profile.

At the head of the +50 captaincy, she will be able to rely on a detailed knowledge of senior audiences, adapted technical progressions and the expectations of players who represent a large part of the growth of sport in France. It is a coherent choice for a first World Cup where the FFT wants to field competitive but also well-supervised teams.

Context: an FFT which accelerates after ministerial recognition

The announcement comes in a dense federal context. The FFT obtained theministerial delegationto pilot pickleball in France, paving the way for labeling, national championships and a structured development policy. THEfirst French championshipsmarked a symbolic milestone; the appointment of captains for the World Cup is another, internationally oriented.

On the federal website, the French pickleball team page reminds that the selections will be revealed onJuly 16 and 17, 2026, before the Vietnamese meeting. Clubs and licensees thus have a readable calendar: captains first, squads then, then summer preparation.

The Pickleball World Cup 2026 in Da Nang

The 2026 edition will be held atDa Nang, from August 30 to September 6. The first World Cup organized in Asia, the event will bring together several thousand athletes and dozens of nationalities on a large number of fields. For France, it will be afirst major participationunder structured FFT banner.

Our guide to2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nangdetails the format, the history of the competition and the logistical challenges for the European delegations. Remember the essentials: heat, humidity, volume of matches and a high international level, including in the amateur and senior categories.

Federal objective: structure and support the best

The FFT explicitly formulates its ambition:structure the French teamAndsupport the best playerstricolors. Expected concrete translation: preparation schedule, medical and technical staff, transparent selections, communication with clubs and leagues. The captains will be the interface between the federal technical management and the field.

For French clubs, it is also a motivation lever: licensees can aim for national selection in categories where the level remains accessible relatively quickly for solid sporting profiles. Pickleball does not yet have twenty years of federal history in France: the window is open for players who combine tournament regularity, club commitment and DUPR progression.

What this changes for the French ecosystem

Beyond high-level sport, this nomination legitimizes pickleball in the eyes of communities, sponsors and media. A French team with identified captains looks like an established discipline, not a passing fashion. This joins the local dynamics already visible: regional opens, dedicated complexes, reconversion of tennis courts.

Decision-makers who invest in infrastructure can build on this trajectory. Our pagepickleball court buildersupports clubs, town halls and hotels who want approved surfaces, ready to accommodate players aiming for national selections as well as leisure players.

Next steps to take

Several dates structure the summer of 2026 for supporters and candidates for selection:

• July 16-17: announcement of the squad for the French team (source FFT)
• End of August: trip of the French delegation to Vietnam
• August 30 - September 6: Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang

To learn more about the federal framework and the training available, also consult our article onpickleball training in France. More official information onfft.fr.

Conclusion

Caroline Dhenin and Mylène Hernja embody two faces of French pickleball: the former pro converted to development and international competition, and the educational expert serving seniors. Their nomination for the 2026 World Cup in Vietnam confirms that the FFT intends to play an active role on the world stage, not just organize national tournaments. See you in mid-July for the names of those selected, and at the end of August for the first major international measure of French pickleball.

Do you follow competition news and play in a club? Stay informed via our guides on The Pickleballers blog and prepare for your season with equipment adapted to your level onthepickleballers-shop.com.