Installed at Portugal for several years, Laura Buteau continues her journey on the international circuit with a very different organization than the one she was familiar with in France. Present at Marrakech on the occasion of MBD Padel Cup The French player reflected on her daily life as an athlete, her choice to prioritize Portugal, but also on the growing difficulties of the FIP circuit.
A Moroccan interlude before hitting the road again
Between two international tournaments, Laura Buteau settled in Marrakech to participate in the MBD Padel Cup. Invited by the organization, she plays alongside Camilia Benabdeljalil , one of the best Moroccan players in an event mixing celebrities, amateurs and top-level players.
"I was invited by the organization to play with the Moroccan number 4. It's my first time in Marrakech, so I'll take it," she smiled.
A welcome break in a particularly busy schedule.
A professional structure in Portugal
Since last October, the Frenchwoman has been training at the academy AZ Padel , near Lisbon. A recent structure but already renowned for its organization.
"I train from Monday to Thursday with two padel sessions per day and physical work."
Coached by the Spanish coach Ivan González , having notably passed through the Gustavo Pratto Academy Laura benefits from a particularly comprehensive environment. Physical trainer, physiotherapist, nutritionist and even photographer make up the staff available to the players.
On a daily basis, she notably shares the track with Patricia Ribeiro , former top 80 world player, as well as with Mafalda Fernandes , a member of the Portuguese top 5 and established in the world's top 150.
"We are very well supported. It's probably one of the first Portuguese academies to be so well structured."
A calendar built around Portugal
Unlike some players who travel extensively around the world, the French player focuses most of her activity on the Iberian Peninsula.
"I'm lucky because there are many tournaments in Portugal."
The majority of its competitions are held in Portugal, Spain, or occasionally in France. When several events are organized simultaneously, the choice is quickly made.
"If there's a FIP tournament in Portugal and a FIP tournament in France, I prefer the one in Portugal for budgetary reasons. That's also why you see me less on the French circuit these days."
A pragmatic choice that allows him to optimize his movements while competing in tournaments where the level is particularly high.
Why she turned the page on the French circuit
Before her departure for Portugal, Laura Buteau had a remarkable season on the French circuit alongside Camille Sireix then with Deborah Alquier An experience that also allowed him to discover the organization of Spanish padel more closely.
But over time, several factors led her to redirect her sporting project.
The first reason is obviously financial. Now residing in Portugal, returning to France regularly represents a significant cost.
The second concerns the organization of the competitions themselves. Laura particularly appreciates the way the Portuguese circuit works, which offers six levels and a more progressive distribution of players.
Another notable difference: the absence of ranking matches.
"When you lose, your tournament is over. This makes the weekends and the physical strain much easier."
The Frenchwoman also admits to having been less impressed by the evolution of the French circuit in recent years.
According to her, the management of competitions has become more focused on economic and organizational considerations, with less proximity to the players.
A FIP circuit that has become much more difficult
Classified around the 180th place in the world Laura Buteau notes how much the level of the international circuit has become more competitive.
She even believes she missed the best opportunity to establish herself permanently at the top of the rankings.
"When certain French players like Carla Toully ou Camille Sireix They embarked on the circuit; 150 points allowed them to be around the top 150 in the world. Today I have about 155 points and I am only 180th. »
For her, this development perfectly illustrates the growth of women's padel worldwide.
Getting through the early rounds has become increasingly difficult, especially on the FIP Bronze et FIP Silver where players from top 60 or world top 70 regularly bolster the charts.
She cites, in particular, the examples of Sofia saiz , Marta Talaván , Raquel Eugenio or, Martina Fassio , recently faced on the circuit.
"From the second rounds onwards, we can come across players who are already well within the required level." Premier Padel »
Why the best come down to the FIP Tour
These confrontations also allowed Laura to interact directly with several players ranked higher than her.
These discussions allowed her to better understand why some top-ranked players continue to participate in FIP tournaments that are less prestigious.
"They explained to me that the circuit Premier Padel does not guarantee enough points. They need to secure their ranking by also playing on the FIP Tour »
This reality makes access to the top 150 increasingly complex for players ranked between the 150e and the 250th place in the world .
Gemma Triay as a model
A big fan of padel, Laura closely follows international competitions throughout the year.
Among all the players on the circuit, one personality particularly catches her attention: Gemma Triay
"It's not even necessarily his technical skill. What impresses me most is his mental strength."
The Frenchwoman particularly admires the Spanish woman's ability to support her partner. Delfi Brea in difficult moments, especially during big matches against the best pairs in the world.
"When I see how she manages to rally Delfi during moments of doubt, it really impresses me."
The top 150 in sight
For the second part of the season, Laura has set herself clear objectives.
The first is to join the world top 150 , a symbolic milestone but one that has become particularly difficult to reach.
The second consists of to continue his progress on the international circuit despite the increasing density of the paintings.
Finally, she emphasizes a crucial point: preserve the joy of playing.
Because despite the distances, the financial difficulties and the ever-increasing competition, it is above all this passion for padel that continues to guide his sporting project.
Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!
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