Marie-Ève Pelletier, who spent her youth in Repentigny, is a former professional Canadian tennis player who has played on the circuit from 1997 to January 2013. Today TVA Sports tennis analyst, Marie-Ève has played all the Grand Chelem tournaments and she is the first Quebecer to have faced a world classified player in the world, Nancy Davenport. Who could have imagined that after having played the Rogers Cup, today, it would cover the same event, now known by omnium national banking?
Did you want to follow in the footsteps of your mother and take your retirement?
Not at all, I did not intend to follow in the footsteps of my mother. My daughter Zoé, 5, does not have this intention either. “Mom, I decided to retire like you,” it was her words when I announced my retirement.
Your parents, Guy and Louise, worked very hard.
We were three children at home, so to allow us to have a good quality of life, my father had two jobs, including one of a hockey referee, while my mother directed a children’s daycare center.
Your mother suffered from a selective memory loss.
This favored my career as a tennis player. My brother is a year older than me, but she both scored us to a tennis summer camp where we were both supposed to be the same age, 6 years old.
Why did she do this?
It’s simple, we had the same hours, which allowed us to go to a bicycle to the Rivest Ensemble Park. One day, I had to make a choice between tennis and figure skating with the team of excellence with whom I trained every Saturday morning.
You preferred your social life at the age of seven.
It was not at all complicated, because I preferred hot weather in cold weather, and above all, it would allow me to watch the comics on Saturday morning with my brother and my sister. Surprised, it only lasted a year, because the following year, I had tennis training on Saturday morning.
The Bruneau family has played an important role in your career.
When I joined the Tennis Academy, my coach was renowned coach Sylvain Bruneau. Previously, during my summer tennis camps, it was his sister who trained me.
At seven years old, you had written that you wanted to become a tennis coach.
I had no idea at this age that I could become a professional player. A few years later, my coach Sylvain Bruneau obliged me to study every day that were the twenty best tennis players in the world.
Your last year in Lionel-Groulx primary school was difficult.
I had a half -yearly school program, the first part of which was in English and the second in French. However, my French lesson in January was difficult.
I was invited to participate in the Orange Bowl tournament in Florida, thereafter to the Canadian Junior Championships in Winnipeg, which I won, without forgetting my many training sessions. Fortunately, my teachers helped me so that I finish my primary.
At ten, you took the plane for the first time.
My parents had never taken the plane before. Looking at my 10 year old daughter, I realize how much my own childhood was completely different from hers.
At 13, destination Florida to train.
I trained in Delray Beach, Florida. The life of a young 13 -year -old tennis player was intense and demanding, training on training. On occasion, my coach Sylvain Bruneau was present.
You did sport-study at the Mortagne Secondary School.
Every morning, I traveled with the academy to go to Boucherville. During the journey, I took the opportunity to do my homework. I will always be grateful to the Delisle family, which, at the time, was the owners of the Raffin bookstores. Their precious financial help has helped me a lot.
You have never been successful at the Repentigny internationals.
I am far from having succeeded. However, I am honored that the winner of the tournament received the Marie-Ève Pelletier trophy.
And the Australian Open?
I had the chance to participate in all the great chelems of tennis. The Australian Open is the place I prefer, because I left winter for the summer in January. I was successful at the junior level and my professional career ended in the same place.
What advice do you have for young people?
If possible, end your university studies. A career can end up suddenly for two reasons: your talent does not progress as you wish or a serious injury can end your career.
Today, your family passes first.
My husband, Pascal Leclaire, was a goalkeeper in the NHL for many years before ending his career with the Senators of Ottawa following an injury. Before, our diaries were filled with my tennis schedule and that of his hockey career. Today, our daily activities are focused on our family life. Our children, Zoé and Béatrice, are our reason for living.
