"I Was Never a Candidate": Tsonga Sets the Record Straight After Monfils' Appointment
After questions were raised about the FFT's choice, Tsonga speaks out in a video and denies any disappointment. The former star explains he was never approached to become Davis Cup captain.
Following the surprise appointment of Gaël Monfils as captain of the French Davis Cup team, criticism quickly emerged.
Several observers notably 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 wanted to set the record straight in a video posted on his social media. He notably explained that he had never officially been a candidate for the position.
"I was not a candidate"
"Okay guys, a quick update on the whole Davis Cup story, because it needs to stop—people need to quit getting caught up in these ridiculous controversies. 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.
As for me, I was never really a candidate. In any case, I was never approached by the Federation to become one.
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.
There are always people who are disappointed. I'm not one of them, simply because I was not a candidate. Until now, I didn't even know that Paul-Henri Mathieu was no longer in the running."
"Suddenly, you become a candidate even though you haven't spoken to anyone"
"Above all, I wish Gaël success. It's important today that we restore our reputation and put the French team and our flag back where they belong on the world tennis stage.
Journalists came to me asking: 'Would you like to be the Davis Cup captain?' Well, the thing is, you can't say no.
I have to say yes because, down the line, it's obviously a role that could interest me.
But suddenly, you become a candidate even though you haven't spoken to anyone. Nothing has been offered to you, no mission. So clearly, today, I was not a candidate.
It's the Federation, with Gilles Moretton at its head, that makes the decisions. That has to be respected, and that's exactly what I'm doing."
Tsonga had nonetheless warned Gilles Moretton
"I did let Gilles Moretton know, indeed, that if one day he thought of me—because he kindly came to visit the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Grand Prix and the Country Club in Décines, where my academy is located—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.
It's not something to take lightly. It takes considerable time and it has to be a serious project, so that I can put everything in place and honor a role as important as this one for French tennis.
So, ladies and gentlemen of the press, rest assured that everything is perfectly clear. There's no need to get into lengthy debates on this subject.
We need to look forward now, and we're all behind Gaël so he can take the French team where it deserves to be," said the former world No. 5.
