Ivan Ljubicic, in charge of high-level at the French Tennis Federation, has offered his resignation from part of his position, that of head of the French teams, following the performances of the French players at the Paris Olympic Games.
Ivan Ljubicic, former coach of Roger Federer, was hired in December 2022 by the French Tennis Federation with the creation of an “Ambition 2024” mission within the DTN. Under the leadership of the current President of the FFT, Gilles Moretton, his hiring as director of high level did not have the desired effect for the Bleu(e)s during these Olympic Games. Wednesday, following the elimination of Corentin Moutet, the last Frenchman in the running at the Olympic Games, the Croatian arrived in the mixed zone to empty his bag. Ljubicic announced that he had proposed to the president of the FFT to give up some of his responsibilities. “The results are catastrophic. This is the reality, we absolutely have to take our responsibilities,” he declared. I have already spoken with the president. Today (Wednesday), I am also responsible for the French team and I have offered my resignation from this position, because we have not managed to prepare the players. This is the third time that a host country has not placed players in the quarter-finals after Greece and South Korea. I have no problem continuing to help the young players, to organize things at the CNE. But the French team for me, between the captains and the coaches, I can’t even talk to the players so it is not acceptable to be responsible for something that you cannot change. It is something difficult to understand. Of course (Fabien) Reboul got injured, Kristina decided at the last minute that she would not play but we cannot say that the Games were the priority, if that were the case, you cannot do it without trying to prepare them a little better. That is our level. We don’t have any players in the Top 10 and we know the results at Roland-Garros in recent years. So winning a medal is complicated. But I was motivated to do a little better (than any quarter-finalist). Maybe not the medal. But better.” Ten players, six men and four women, were lined up in total for France in all the draws for these Olympic Games at Roland-Garros. The Blues have not brought home a tennis medal since the London Olympics in 2012 (silver and bronze in men’s doubles). As for Ivan Ljubicic, he does not intend to leave his position at the FFT, but wants to review his missions. “At the federation level, I’m staying,” he said. I have zero problem continuing to help young players (…) all that. I think I can absolutely help a lot.”
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