Ksenia Chasteau: 'I feel excited for what is next to come'
Two years ago this week Ksenia Chasteau made her international wheelchair tennis debut in BNP Paribas World Team Cup competition, representing the French junior team on the hard courts of the Vilamoura Tennis Academy in Portugal.
Fast forward to this week and the now 18-year-old is making her senior debut for the women’s French team on the clay courts at the Megasaray Tennis Academy in a year when clay courts, France and wheelchair tennis go hand-in hand as the Paris 2024 Paralympics draw ever nearer. In a remarkable rise to prominence, Chasteau aims to be there.
“My first World Team Cup was as a junior player; I am now part of the team as a senior player so it is very different but I have great memories of my first selection – it’s always felt special to play for your country,” says Chasteau, who was an accomplished junior tennis player competing on her feet before a motorcycle accident in January 2021 resulted in both Ksenia and her father having to have leg amputations.
“Being picked to play in the World Team Cup this year is such an achievement in itself; it’s great to be here with the whole team and I am very proud, of course. After my accident I tried wheelchair tennis for the first time 10 months later. An association in my town suggested it to me and helped me get started.”
Twelve months ago, France won their first World Team Cup women’s medal since 2015. A second bronze medal in successive years is very much a possibility for this year’s third seeds after topping their round-robin group in Antalya to book a place in the semi-finals, where 33-time champions and top seeds Netherlands awaited and Chasteau took world No. 4 Aniek van Koot to two close sets
Should a podium place be achieved it would be the latest accolade for Chasteau in a career that has rocketed upwards since the start of 2023, at which point she had not won any wheelchair singles titles.
She won nine singles and six doubles titles across junior and senior competition last season, including the US Open Junior Grade A title and ended 2023 as world No.1 in the Cruyff Foundation Junior Wheelchair Tennis Rankings - a position that she comfortably still maintains.
”I am proud of what I have managed to achieve in the last year, especially winning the US Open, she adds modestly. I feel like I am progressing fast.even though there is still a lot to work on, and I feel excited for what is next to come. I never expected to be so successful a year ago.”
Aside from winning the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters title on home soil in January, more and more senior success has followed. During a successful trip to Asia in late March and early April she posted some impressive results for someone still relatively inexperience and retuned to Europe as the new French No. 4 player, a position that could earn her Chasteau her Paralympic debut if she stays where she is or, indeed, moves higher up the rankings.
“For the last six months my goal has been to qualify for the (Paralympic) Games and I am working hard towards it. I am confident I can make it,” Chasteau says assuredly.
For now, there is unfinished business on the clay courts at the Megasaray Tennis Academy, but Chasteau’s talents have long been recognised in France. She is one of 150 young tennis and wheelchair tennis hopefuls supported by the ‘Team BNP Paribas Young Talents’ programme that'ss in operation in eight countries.
“I have been part of the programme for over two years now. Thanks to this team, we meet lot of personalities who help for my future career. it also helps me financially with my career,” she says.
Whatever happens this week in Antalya, Chasteau’s career is certainly one to watch closely.