Roland-Garros: Ljubicic gives French tennis a 'neither positive nor negative' assessment

Ivan Ljubicic, the French Tennis Federation's director of high performance, has characterized the French tennis contingent's showing at Roland Garros as neither positive nor negative, reflecting a nuanced assessment of the players' performances.

Following the elimination of Diane Parry, the last French representative, Ljubicic addressed the media. He noted that while there were three seeded men's players (Arthur Rinderknech, Ugo Humbert, and Corentin Moutet) and no seeded women, the results largely reflected the current competitive levels. He singled out Parry's performance and that of Moïse Kouame as particularly positive developments.

Ljubicic praised 17-year-old Moïse Kouame for showing significant promise, not just in results but in his approach to matches and his stated ambition to potentially win the tournament. While acknowledging that such declarations might be seen as exaggerated in France, Ljubicic supported Kouame's drive and ambition, emphasizing the need for continued support and experience, both positive and negative, for his development.

Looking ahead, Ljubicic expressed optimism about the next generation of French players, including Kouame, Daniel Jade, and Mathys Domenc, describing the 2009 cohort as very promising. However, he also voiced concern regarding Arthur Fils, who has not competed recently, indicating a lack of detailed information about the player's situation. Despite this, Ljubicic maintained a generally positive outlook on the future of French tennis.