Sports · Tennis · 2 hrs ago
Tsonga says he was never a candidate for France Davis Cup captain
The French Tennis Federation named Gaël Monfils as France’s Davis Cup captain to succeed Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Former world No.
5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga says he was never formally considered for the role and was not approached by the federation.
His name had circulated after he told journalists the job could interest him in the future.
Tsonga said he had discussed the possibility with federation president Gilles Moretton, but only asked to be given plenty of notice if the role were ever offered.
He said the captaincy requires time and should be treated as a serious commitment.
Tsonga welcomed Monfils’s appointment, saying he could bring players together and build enthusiasm among France’s leading players.
He also said the priority should be restoring France’s standing in world tennis.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said he was never a candidate to become France’s Davis Cup captain and had not been approached by the French Tennis Federation.
He made the comments in an Instagram video after the federation appointed Gael Monfils to the role.
Tsonga said he was happy for his friend and believed Monfils could unite the players and build enthusiasm.
He said media answers about whether he might want the job had led people to view him as a candidate.
Tsonga said he had told federation president Gilles Moretton that any future approach would need to come well in advance.
- Who
- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said he was never a candidate. Gael Monfils was named France’s Davis Cup captain.
- What
- Tsonga denied being in the running for the captaincy and backed Monfils’s appointment.
- When
- Tsonga posted his video on Sunday, two days after the appointment was announced.
- Where
- Tsonga made the statement in an Instagram video. He said he had discussed the possibility with Gilles Moretton at his academy in Décines, near Lyon.
- Why
- Tsonga said media questions about whether he wanted the job had led to confusion about his candidacy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The French Tennis Federation named Gael Monfils France’s Davis Cup captain.
Federation president Gilles Moretton declined to comment on a reported meeting with Tsonga in Lyon.
Tsonga posted an Instagram video denying that he had been a candidate for the captaincy.
- New captain
- Gael Monfils
- Former world ranking
- Tsonga was world No. 5
- Federation president
- Gilles Moretton
- Location
- Décines, near Lyon
- Video length
- More than five minutes
What people are saying
As for me, I was never really a candidate. In any case, I wasn’t approached by the Federation to be one.
I’m super happy for my friend Gael. I’m not saying that what was done before wasn’t good quality, but I think he’s the right person today to bring the players together and bring back perhaps even greater enthusiasm among the best French players.
For a job like that, I don’t think you should take it lightly. It takes time, and it has to be a serious project that requires some thought.
I’m not one of them, because I wasn’t a candidate.