Just two years ago, Laura Buteau was ranked 22nd in France and above 280th in the world. Today, the player nicknamed Pulpita has established itself in the French top 10 and in the world top 200. A meteoric rise which now fuels a clear ambition: to join the French padel team by 2026.

His full-time coach, Alexandre Prevert, who has been with him since 2024, does not hide his conviction: “Laura Buteau will be 100% part of the French team in 2026.” A statement that may seem bold since the Nantes native is currently only tenth in the French international rankings. But the work she's put in and the results she's achieved show that she's on the right track.

Laura's profile makes her unique. True left-handed players are rare at the highest level. She has developed a formidable weapon: her smash. "Laura is part of a very select league of players capable of smashing more than twenty times per match, with a success rate close to 80%. Defensively, she has learned to stay under the bar of 9-10 unforced errors per set, which is more than enough to compensate for her enormous offensive output."

This transformation is no accident. When Alexandre Prévert began working with her at the end of 2023, Laura was still far from the expected standards. "Her playing was messy, her concentration haphazard. But she really took off, worthy of her talent." The figures speak for themselves: entry into the French top 10, quarter-finals at the French championships, semi-finals in P2000 and P1500, first call-up to training camp with the French group in 2024, breakthrough into the world top 200, two quarter-finals in FIP and a first appearance on the circuit Premier Padel during the P2 of Valladolid.

Beyond results, it's also a question of mentality. Laura now works like a professional, surrounded by a complete team—technical, physical, and psychological. She moves forward without pressure. "Nobody really expects him to reach this level. His maturity comes late, after 30, and many doubted his ability to control his game and his mind. But it's clear that they're already largely wrong."

For his coach, the time has come. "Like Rocky Balboa, she has an exceptional opportunity to seize and now is the time to do it. It will require total commitment, but I believe in it perhaps even more than she does."

The context is also favorable to her. While some players appear unquestionably strong contenders for the French national team, two or three spots remain open. Laura therefore has a real card to play. The coming months will be decisive in confirming her potential and reaching a new milestone.

"My prediction for 2026 is clear: Laura will be among the top three French women on the left and will be firmly established in the world top 100," says Alexandre Prévert, convinced.

A bet that may seem risky, but the trajectory of Pulpita already gives reasons to believe it. See you in a year to find out if this blue dream will become reality.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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