Guichard takes the French lead: a milestone in the FIP ranking
The FIP ranking update dated February 16, 2026 places Dylan Guichard at the top of the French pile: 120th in the world with 473 points. At this level, each leap means more accessible tables, better positions on the entry lists and, sometimes, a slightly smoother path through the qualifying rounds.
The overall picture speaks for itself: behind Guichard, the pack tightens up with Johan Bergeron and Bastien Blanqué, while Thomas Leygue appears further back in the FIP ranking. This density confirms a trend: the French are no longer condemned to “making a stunning win” in order to exist, they now have to string together to establish themselves.
Guichard’s success is also due to the fact that his profile is well suited to the demands of top-level football. As a right-side player, he has a very clean reading of the game: volume, little waste, and the ability to stay on the diagonal until he finds the right window. His construction bandeja is one of his trademark shots, as is his management of lobs and transitions at the net. A padel of control which, on a “hot” week, can do a lot of damage.
The turning point in Riyadh: a set from the No.1s and 45 points in the bag
The turning point is clear: Riyadh Season P1. With Bastien Blanqué, Guichard first validated a solid match against Belluati / Dominguez (7/5, 6/1), a scenario in which the French pair alternated patience and acceleration, avoiding faults at key moments.
And then there was the big match-up: Coello / Tapia. The French managed to do what very few pairs manage to do, even on a short passage of play: take a set from the world’s No. 1 players. What followed was a reminder of the reality of the very highest level, but the imprint is there, and it counts as much in people’s heads as it does on the points sheet.
In accounting terms, the impact was immediate: the Riyadh tournament earned Guichard 45 FIP points, a gain which largely explains his rise to the status of French No.1. Beyond the symbolism, the consequences are very concrete: more margin in the ranking, therefore more opportunities to enter tournaments, to secure statement matches… and to seek, in the court, the symbolic zone of the top 100.
To remember:
- Dylan Guichard becomes French #1 in the FIP ranking (February 16, 2026).
- He is ranked 120th in the world with 473 points.
- Riyadh is the reason for his leap: 45 FIP points and a set taken from the world’s No.1s.
