The new National Technical Director (DTN) of the Moretton term of office will be definitively known in mid-June after the Roland-Garros tournament, following a joint appointment process between the French Tennis Federation (FFT) and the Ministry of Sports which will begin in the coming days.
"We must conduct a call for candidacies in due form", explained last week Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, new general manager of the federation.
While waiting for this deadline, Nicolas Escudé, 44, took a little head start on Thursday.
The former world No. 17, whose greatest achievement remains the Davis Cup victory in Australia in 2001, has indeed been appointed interim DTN.
He succeeds Pierre Cherret, who had held the position for more than three years.
"A major project awaits him"
After his playing career, which ended in 2006, Escudé notably managed the French Fed Cup team for four years (2008-2012), then coached Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in collaboration with Thierry Ascione.
He also worked with Nicolas Mahut or Jérémy Chardy.
Since 2016, the Eurosport consultant has been leading the Challenger tournament in Brest.
"We are very happy that Nicolas Escudé is joining the FFT as Interim National Technical Director," said President Gilles Moretton, while the name of Julien Benneteau had circulated a lot in recent days.
I am convinced that his experience as a leading player, coach, but also captain of the Fed Cup, will enable him to succeed in this new chapter in the FFT's sports policy.
A big building site awaits him.
"
A short month after his appointment at the head of the FFT, the new boss now has his organization chart in place with in particular Arnaud Clément, referent vice-president for the DTN, high level, training and competition, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, general manager, or Luigi Borfiga, “super-advisor”.