The ex-world number 3 and former coach of Roger Federer is responsible for raising the bar of hexagonal tennis, which has been struggling for several years.
The clay-court season opens this Monday, April 10, 2023, with the start of the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo. Serbian Novak Djokovic and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas could benefit from the package of Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. On the French side, however, little hope: neither Richard Gasquet, nor Benjamin Bonzi, nor Ugo Humbert seem able to win the tournament.
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To raise the bar and restore the image of hexagonal tennis, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) is betting on the Croatian Ivan Ljubicic. At 44, the former world number 3, ex-coach of Roger Federer, is responsible for carrying out an inventory and supervising the high level. He must also identify the future nuggets of French tennis. “He will help us on the 14 and overexplains Nicolas Escudé, National Technical Director of the FFT. He must ensure this liaison between the juniors and the junior pros. Above all, he brings his eye and his expertise.”
The work must start from “14 or 15 years old”
Since January 15, Ivan Ljubicic has been crisscrossing France, visiting clubs, following the various tournaments and notably went to the hope center of Poitiers. “The base is there, the potential is great and I’m sure we will change the results of French tennis.he says. It’s the mentality that will make the champion, and I’m here to research and understand the problem, then help the French coaches achieve their goals.”
According to Ivan Ljubicic, the work must start with the players as soon as “14 or 15 years”. The Croatian acknowledges that the challenge “is not easy”, more than “a lot of things are positive.” From there to spot the future Roger Federer in France? “We can create something important, that must be the goal”he replies.
Ivan Ljubicic seems determined to succeed in his mission dubbed “Ambition 2024”, so much so that he refused the offer of a player in the World Top 10 who wanted to hire him as a coach.
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