Amélie Mauresmo has been named to succeed Yannick Noah as captain of the French tennis team for the Davis Cup. A female captain is a first.
The French Davis Cup team will be led for the first time in its history by a captain, the former World No.1 Amélie Mauresmohaving been appointed to succeed Yannick Noah next year, announced Saturday the French Federation of tennis.
Julien Benneteau , who will end his career after the US Open in September, was appointed to head the French Fed Cup team.
Les capitaines des #TeamFranceTennis 2019 et 2020 seront @AmeMauresmo pour la #CoupeDavis et @julienbenneteau pour la #FedCup. #Tousenbleu 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/wo6wOpWyG6
— FFT (@FFTennis) June 23, 2018
An “innovative” choice
Almost 39 years old (July 5th), Mauresmo resumes service in France team after leading the women’s team (2012-2016) that she had led from the second division to the final of the Fed Cup, lost in 2016 in Strasbourg against the Czech Republic.
FFT President Bernard Giudicelli hailed a “completely innovative choice” to place “a woman at the helm of French men’s tennis” at a press conference in the presence of two new captains.
Mauresmo presents the most beautiful list of French tennis in the modern era. First and only French so far to have been N.1 worldwide (39 weeks between 2004 and 2006), she won two Grand Slam titles – Australian Open and Wimbledon 2006 – the Masters (2005) and the Fed Cup ( 2003).
Mauresmo, a solid experience
In addition to his great career, Mauresmo can rely on a solid experience of coaching and not only in selection. For nearly two years, she coached a member of the Big Four, the British Andy Murray (2014-2016), advised Marion Bartoli at his coronation at Wimbledon in 2013 and before that Michaël Llodra, who was competing with her for the captain’s post.
His charisma, his experience made the difference as well, no doubt, as his network. Close to Noah, Mauresmo also coached the current coach of the Davis Cup France team, Loïc Courteau. His physical trainer, Xavier Moreau, is also present in the coaching of the Blues.
