Davis Cup: Monfils named France captain
Barely retired from the court, Gaël Monfils is about to open a new chapter in his career. The former French number one has been named captain of France's Davis Cup team by the French Tennis Federation (FFT). The appointment comes after disappointing results for Les Bleus in the competition and raises questions over his experience in the new post.
Rieltony LOUBOKO · Author profile ·
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A popular figure in French tennis, Gaël Monfils has a knack for getting fans behind the team. His charisma and career at the highest level are the main assets behind the appointment. The federation appears to be banking on his influence with the players and his knowledge of the circuit to inject new momentum into the national team.
However, the former player has no known experience as a coach and will have to adapt quickly to his new responsibilities. His first tie is due next February, leaving him little time to find his feet.
The challenge of reviving Les Bleus
The appointment comes as France's Davis Cup record has slipped since the competition was overhauled in 2019. France have reached the finals stage only once since the change of format. Previous changes of captain have failed to return Les Bleus to the top tier of nations for any length of time.
Gaël Monfils thus follows a string of captains who struggled to restore the side's former status. His brief will include strengthening team cohesion and helping French players rediscover their competitiveness in this team event.
Backroom team set to grow
To support the new captain, the FFT intends to lean on other figures from French tennis. Gilles Simon has been named director of high performance, while Richard Gasquet is also announced as part of the new set-up, although his precise role has yet to be clearly spelled out.
The comparison with Yannick Noah, a three-time Davis Cup winner as captain, is inevitable. Like Monfils, Noah took charge of Les Bleus shortly after his playing career. But the new captain must now prove himself in a role where popularity will not be enough: results will be the main judge of this appointment.