Three days before the election of the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), Gilles Moretton, criticized his management and contradicted his old support Germain Roesch, defends his reputation to AFP.
“My whole life has been a fight: on the tennis court, in the company…”insists the 65-year-old player in the world, the former leader of the competition of Lyon. “To understand your thoughts, to improve your game, you have to wear warm blue”argued Mr. Moretton in an interview Monday.
Elected early in 2021 with 61.2% of the votes against the outgoing president of the FFT Bernard Giudicelli, the French tennis boss shows his financial record at the head of the country’s second sports organization, which in 2023 exceeded one million (1.1). million compared to about 950,000 in 2021, once the pandemic is over).
“Four years ago, we took over an organization that cost 92 million (euros) in losses. After four years, we have a profit of 33 million »he says.
In re-election, the 66-year-old Lyonnais continues to work hard in the FFT positions, after a first term characterized by the departure of many employees, voluntary or otherwise, and the succession of three out of four people. years to the position of director general (Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Caroline Flaissier and Stéphane Morel).
“There will be DTN” (National Technical Director) to replace Nicolas Escudé, whose departure became official at the end of July. “But behind the scenes, the teams in place are doing an amazing job”he judged.
Faced with a critic who has put the clubs in the center of his project and accuses Mr. Moretton of not really understanding their reality, the person concerned shows himself as. “A field president not a living room president”.
“No president before me has visited so many clubs”he tells himself “surprised” about the representation of Germain Roesch, who helped him in 2021.
“Let’s hold on”
“When you have someone next to you for three and a half years, who votes in all dimensions except two and who behind him, at the same time, achieves many things (…) it is not dangerous”believes Mr. Moretton.
More information “My goal is to talk about tennis, because I realize that we have slipped, we have been burdened by a certain number” other issues, he continues.
When asked about the results, the outgoing president refers to an increase in funding for clubs or an increase in government employees dedicated to sports such as padel or beach tennis.
“We created women’s tennis”by creating a competition that matches the age of each player, they are still happy, even if they are sad that the number of women among the licensed players is only 30%.
On a more personal note, after failing this summer to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic singles and doubles, for the first time since 1996, “We can expect a medal in singles” at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
“We have a good generation, we have 13 players in the first 100” international rankings among men, they argue against the candidate. “For the girls, we have to meet, I think that Clara (Burel) and Diane (Parry) have the opportunity to live twenty years” very good.
“Let’s be patient, let’s not get carried away when (the French players, Editor’s comment) win games and let’s not destroy them when they lose”asks the president of FFT.
Among the projects that can last four years (2025-2028), Gilles Moretton wants to increase the loyalty of young people under the age of 10 by improving. “quality of teaching”.
Another job, “We have to allow young people with disabilities to play tennis.” »
In modern French paratennis, “We have players who have met with accidents in life and who play tennis. But we have not met young people with disabilities at birth”he explains.
“My philosophy is tennis everywhere and for everyone, and to allow more people to play tennis,” concludes the councilor.