A choice of heart and court: Tristan Lamasine, Hugo Gaston's daring bet

Just crowned with a title at the Challenger in Rennes, where he defeated a certain Stan Wawrinka (6-4, 6-4), the 24-year-old Frenchman revealed the name of his new coach in a press conference. Following Younes El Aynaoui, it is now Tristan Lamasine, 32, who has just retired from the professional circuit, to take over.

"It's for the long term. We get along very well, he is first and foremost a very good friend. I needed a renewal, a new dynamic. Tristan showed availability, and I'm very happy to win in our first week together," said Gaston in the columns of Ouest-France. A strong statement that reflects a choice based on trust and complicity.

Lamasine, former world No. 181 and qualifier for the main draw at Wimbledon in 2016, knows perfectly the realities of the secondary circuit, the one Gaston is desperately trying to leave for good.

Surprisingly, this collaboration bore its first fruits from the very first week. Even before officially announcing their joint work, Gaston had already trained in Paris with Lamasine, supported by a special guest: Gilles Simon, former world No. 6.

Thanks to this Rennes title, Hugo Gaston climbs to 106th in the world, gaining 22 places in a week.

The Toulouse native now has his eyes set on two upcoming crucial deadlines: the Challenger of Orléans (September 22-28), and then Mouilleron-le-Captif (September 29-October 5). Two tournaments to confirm this new momentum... and finally return to the top 100, which he left at the end of July.