Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Davis Cup captain after Gaël Monfils appointment, Digi Mart USA News: After Gaël Monfils was surprisingly named captain of the French Davis Cup team, criticism quickly emerged. Several observers questioned the absence of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who had already expressed interest in the role.
Journalist Benoît Maylin had offered an explanation for the decision, suggesting that Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), simply did not like the former player. A few hours later, Tsonga posted a video on his social media to set the record straight.
In the video, Tsonga said he had never officially been a candidate for the position. “Okay guys, a quick update on the whole Davis Cup story, because it needs to stop,” he said.
“I’m really happy for my friend Gaël. I think he’s the right person today to bring the players together and generate perhaps even greater enthusiasm among the best French players.”
Tsonga added that he was never approached by the Federation to become captain. “I think they made their choice and, unlike last time, I think they told themselves: we’re not going to shortlist ten candidates and then reject nine of them, which wasn’t necessarily the best idea.
So I believe everything was done the right way.” He said he was not disappointed by the outcome. “There are always people who are disappointed.
I’m not one of them, simply because I was not a candidate.”
Tsonga also said journalists had asked him whether he would like to be captain, and that he felt he could not refuse. “Suddenly, you become a candidate even though you haven’t spoken to anyone.
Nothing has been offered to you, no mission.” He stressed that the decision rests with the Federation, led by Gilles Moretton. “That has to be respected, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Tsonga acknowledged that he had told Moretton that any future consideration would require early notice. “I simply told him that if he was thinking of me, he needed to tell me well in advance, because I have quite a few professional activities and I also have my family life.” He said the role would require considerable time and a serious project.
“We need to look forward now, and we’re all behind Gaël so he can take the French team where it deserves to be,” Tsonga said.
