Tsonga Clears the Air on Captaincy Rumors
The appointment of Gael Monfils as France's new Davis Cup captain raised eyebrows across the tennis world, with many fans and journalists speculating that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been overlooked for the role. Tsonga is having none of it. Speaking to French media, he called the controversy "ridiculous" and made clear that he was never formally considered. Journalists had asked whether he would want the captaincy, and he acknowledged that in that kind of situation, you cannot simply say no because the position might genuinely interest him in the future. But being asked a hypothetical question, he stressed, does not make someone an actual candidate.
Monfils, who retired earlier this year after bringing his playing career to a close at the US Open, steps in to replace Paul-Henri Mathieu. France has not lifted the Davis Cup trophy since their memorable 2017 victory over Belgium, a tie in which Tsonga himself played a key role, defeating Steve Darcis before falling to David Goffin in a final France won 3-2. Tsonga expressed genuine enthusiasm for his friend taking charge, saying Monfils has the personality to unite the best French players and reignite excitement around the national team program.
Life After Playing for Both Men
While Monfils steps into team leadership, Tsonga has carved out a busy post-playing career of his own. He serves as tournament director of the Lyon Open, which returned to the ATP Tour calendar this year, and he was also present at the Paris Masters, an event he won famously back in 2008. With both French legends now shaping the game off the court, TennisDraw users will be watching France's Davis Cup prospects with renewed interest heading into 2027.
