Ted Ranghella, TCT is currently last in its group and therefore virtually relegated for its first season in Pro A. How to explain it?
“We’re last but it’s so close we could be fourth. We know that the first year in Pro A is always very difficult because of the regulations, which require us to only put two new players on the match sheet. Once I have a strong number 1 and number 2, it’s difficult against teams with huge squads. And I have to be honest, apart from Fanselow and Brouwer, I didn’t have a team cut out for Pro A last year. I had to make choices. »
You also had bad luck…
“My twist of fate is that Brouwer unfortunately loses his grandfather and leaves us in the middle of the championship for the funeral. This is completely normal. Afterwards, he was selected for the Davis Cup with the Netherlands as a substitute and I hope we can count on him before the end of the championship. Without him, it’s no longer the same team and we find ourselves, unsurprisingly, with two away defeats. We go to war with spoons against tanks, it’s logical. »
Despite everything, we feel positive, right?
“Yes, because next year, my newly qualified players will be able to play all the matches and we will have a very good team. Our recruits have the right spirit: Shevchenko is very, very good, Llamas Ruiz will soon enter the Top 100, he is monstrous… We will be able to recruit doubles players, too. The only sporting regret I have is the draw against Le Blanc-Mesnil on the first day. We must win. Afterwards, I am still ambitious. We will give 500%. »
It’s a difficult but necessary year, therefore.
“Yes, it’s a transitional year. Next year, in the end, even if we went down to Pro B, with our squad, we would go straight back up. These are the rules and we just need our supporters to continue to trust us. »
What do you expect from your last matches, this Wednesday at home against Bordeaux then Saturday in Annecy?
“Annecy has a lot of cohesion, they are strong but it’s still playable. Afterwards, we must not lie to ourselves: at home, on Wednesday, we must beat Bordeaux, give it our all and we will take stock at the end of the championship. I don’t want any regrets, so we will fight until the end. »
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