By Guillaume K. | Sports journalist
While our Swiss neighbors had the chance to thrill thanks to the exploits of Roger Federer or
Stanislas WawrinkaFrench men’s tennis has still been waiting for a Grand Slam since 1983. Federer’s former coach made a simple observation about the problems in France.
If Ugo Humbert did not make the weight in the final of the Paris-Bercy Masters, with a scathing defeat against the new world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, his epic at least made it possible to see one thing: the French public is ready to ignite for his players. Since time, enthusiasts have been impatiently awaiting a prestigious victory.
Indeed, since 2014 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s victory in Toronto, no tricolor has won at a Masters 1000… The shortage is even more terrifying in Grand Slams, since we have to go back to 1983 to find the trace of a French title. Let’s hope that the new generation represented by Arthur Son will be the one to break the curse.
Roger Federer’s coach talks about French results
Among the reasons for hope, the fact that the FFT is working to change things and to transmit the culture of winning to its players. Former coach of Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic was made “High Level Director”, a position for which he monitors our professionals and their results. On Eurosporthe made a cash observation on our tennis:
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Arthur Fils, over the last three months, he has shown a maturity that he did not have at the start of the year. It’s important to see progression. What I find strange in France is that they say that the Federation is responsible for everything. Maybe in history, the FFT had control of absolutely the entire project, but today, I try to apply my philosophy.
The Federation is there to help its players if they need. In Switzerland, the federation trained Roger Federer, but when he left, he left alone. In France, the responsibilities of the Federation must be clarified. It’s not simple here and I find it strange. But the lack of title is also the responsibility of the players, the parents, the coaches. If we don’t train them, it’s difficult to be responsible.
After a drought of 5 long years, Ivan Ljubicic allowed Roger Federer to regain Grand Slam glory. He likes challenges, and he is currently trying to restore the nobility of French tennis. He is pleasantly surprised by the progress of Arthur Fils, but he knows that the road will still be long before the next coronation. To begin with, we must already change mentalities.
French tennis is still waiting for its savior, and he could well come from the new generation. Ivan Ljubicic knows what it takes to reach the very high level, and he tries to apply his method within the French Tennis Federation.
