Sports · Tennis · 5 hrs ago
Rusedski questions Ljubicic’s dual role as Auger-Aliassime’s coach
Canadian tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime has hired Ivan Ljubicic as his coach.
Ljubicic, a former world No 3, also has a role with the French Tennis Federation, which says his contract allows him to coach individual players.
Greg Rusedski, a former US Open finalist, says that arrangement could create a conflict if Auger-Aliassime plays a French player.
Rusedski also described Ljubicic as an experienced coach whose work with Roger Federer included three Grand Slam wins in 2017 and 2018.
Auger-Aliassime previously worked with Toni Nadal, who said he would still support Rafael Nadal if they played each other.
Auger-Aliassime is ranked sixth and has reached two US Open semi-finals, but he is still seeking his first Grand Slam title.
How Ljubicic will balance his coaching and federation roles remains to be seen.
Greg Rusedski has questioned whether Ivan Ljubicic can balance coaching Felix Auger-Aliassime while retaining his role with the French Tennis Federation.
Rusedski said the arrangement could create a conflict if Auger-Aliassime plays a French player.
The French Tennis Federation said Ljubicic’s contract allows him to coach individual players on the ATP or WTA Tours.
Ljubicic began working with Auger-Aliassime at the start of October, after the Canadian split with coach Frederic Fontang in July.
Rusedski also praised Ljubicic’s coaching credentials and described him as a strong appointment for Auger-Aliassime.
- Who
- Greg Rusedski raised concerns about Ivan Ljubicic’s coaching arrangement with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
- What
- Rusedski questioned how Ljubicic would balance coaching Auger-Aliassime with his French Tennis Federation role.
- When
- Rusedski’s comments came less than two weeks into the partnership, which began at the start of October.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Rusedski said a conflict could arise if Auger-Aliassime faced a French player while Ljubicic remained part of the federation.
Greg Rusedski
French Tennis Federation
Dual role
Greg Rusedski
Rusedski said the arrangement could create a conflict, particularly if Auger-Aliassime plays a French player.
French Tennis Federation
The federation said Ljubicic’s contract permits him to coach individual players competing on the ATP or WTA Tours.
There’s a little conflict going on there, to figure out, ‘Okay, how is this going to work?’
Ivan’s contract with the FFT does not prevent him from individually coaching players competing on the ATP or WTA Tours. This collaboration is therefore compatible with his role at the FFT.
The credentials of Ivan as a coach are exceptional
Auger-Aliassime split with coach Frederic Fontang after nearly 10 years together.
Ljubicic coached Roger Federer.
Ljubicic began working with Auger-Aliassime while retaining a role with the French Tennis Federation.
Rusedski raised concerns about the dual role.
- New coach
- Ivan Ljubicic
- Player
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Previous coach
- Frederic Fontang; partnership lasted nearly 10 years
- Federation role
- Ljubicic retained a job with the French Tennis Federation
- ATP ranking
- Auger-Aliassime sits sixth in the ATP Rankings
- Career high
- Fourth earlier in 2026
Sources
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