End of course for Laura Buteau and his partner Rita Vilaça au FIP Bronze of Almeirim, beaten 6/2 7/5 in the semi-final by the Portuguese Mafalda Fernandes et alexandra silva (TS8). A frustrating defeat, but also one that taught the Frenchwoman a lesson, who signed her best result on the international circuit.

A tense start to the match, then a real collective reaction

As his coach explains Alexandre Prevert, the Franco-Portuguese duo had a complicated start: "The match started with emotions, some strategic confusion, which is normal for two players who were playing their first semi-final at this level. Their opponents were coming off a final the previous week, which made the difference in terms of experience and calm."

The second set, however, showed a completely different dynamic: "We managed to get things back on track, to respect our game and to target our opponents' weak points. We didn't have a break point to defend and two opportunities to break, but we weren't able to capitalize on them. At 5/5, they took advantage of their only opportunity, and that was enough."

A benchmark tournament for the Frenchwoman

Despite this defeat, Laura Buteau's performance remains positive. Three weeks after her arrival at the Hayes Academy, the Frenchwoman confirms her progress and her adaptation to a higher level. "It's a very good tournament, a real team effort. We were able to build match after match, and this last one, despite a bad start, shows that we are capable of competing," emphasizes her coach.

A promising semi-final, then, and a symbol of progression for a player who is advancing step by step in the top level. And a final wink: as promised, Alexandre Prévert kept his word: his moustache, left as a pledge until Laura had beaten a seeded player at this level, was shaved off just after the match!

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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