Tsonga answers the questions
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has spoken about Gaël Monfils’ appointment as France’s Davis Cup captain. In a video on Instagram, the 41-year-old said he was delighted for his friend and called the choice a very good thing for the team. He also told people to stop stirring up controversy.
Monfils, 40 and only just retired from the tour, was picked unanimously by the French federation to succeed Paul-Henri Mathieu. Tsonga was widely seen as the natural option, and the decision drew criticism, mostly because Monfils has never coached and did not always answer France’s call as a player.
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No application, no approach
Tsonga denied he ever put his name forward. He said he was never really a candidate and that the federation did not approach him. He added that there are always disappointed people, but he is not one of them.
His relationship with FFT president Gilles Moretton has sometimes been cool, which may have counted against him. Tsonga explained that when Moretton visited the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes at the end of October, he told him to warn him in advance if he ever came into the frame, given his professional commitments and family life.
The door stays open
He did not rule out the job for later. It is a post that could interest him in future, he said, though he stressed it should not be taken lightly. For now, the decision belongs to the federation, and Monfils has the role.
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