Aurélien Canot, Media365: published on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 12:56
The day after his title in Tunis, the first of his young career in a WTT Contender, Flavien Coton (17 years old) climbs to 21st place in the world rankings. The new French ping-pong prodigy, who had never been ranked so well, is knocking on the door of the Top 20.
Flavien Coton, a first title and soon the Top 20 in the world? The young 27-year-old from the North has achieved one of the best operations of the week after his title, the first for him in a WTT Contender, brought back on Sunday from Tunis, Tunisia. By achieving his best victory at the Tunisian table since his debut, the new French ping-pong prodigy has indeed moved up five places in the world rankings updated this Monday.
Ranked 26th before experiencing a dream week in Tunis with this trophy he dreamed of, the announced successor of the Lebrun brothers, certainly on the verge of elimination in the round of 16 against… his doubles partner Jules Rolland (86th) – who led by one set to nothing and then 2 sets to 1 – now occupies the 21st place.
Best ranking for Coton
Not content to climb higher than he had ever done before, Coton, who overtakes another Frenchman Thibault Poret (28th), finds himself just under 18 years old knocking on the doors of the Top 20, nine places ahead of Japanese Hiroto Shinozuka (30th) whom the new French prodigy defeated on Sunday in the final (5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7) – in five sets and 41 minutes of play – to succeed a certain Félix Lebrun in the same city of Tunis where he had won the world title for U15s four years ago.
Status quo for the Lebrun brothers
The French leader, on the other hand, retains 6th place, while his brother Alexis remains 14th, just like Simon Gauzy who remains 19th this Monday, only two ranks ahead of Coton who keeps climbing. The three men were resting while the Nordiste was living the best week of his table tennis career in Tunis. However, this will not be the case this week, with the individual World Cup on the agenda for our best French players. Coton will certainly be part of it very soon.
