She appeared in the Roland-Garros press room smiling and relaxed.
As often with her.
Surrounded by Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, general manager of the FFT, Amélie Mauresmo was appointed, this Thursday morning, director of the Porte d'Auteuil tournament.
She succeeds her friend Guy Forget who was not reappointed after refusing a proposal - very much at a discount - from the Federation.
This is the first time that a woman has moved into the boss chair at Roland Garros.
Before “taking over the files from 2 pm”, the former world number 1 answered questions.
What do you feel ?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO.
I am extremely proud and honored that Gilles (
Moretton
) and Amélie (
Castéra
) offered me this position.
Roland-Garros has resonated in me since I was very young, this tournament has made me dream of since I was very young.
There is a strong emotional connection.
This tournament has been a common thread throughout my life.
He's always been there, in one way or another, as a player, coach or consultant.
It's a story for better and for worse.
When I was younger, I lived here, it was my playground. We didn't play cat in the parks but on the Central.
I don't know if a lot of people have been through as much here as I have.
Coming back here is important.
Discussions started a few weeks ago ...
We had intense, sustained discussions, I wanted to be a force for proposals beyond the sporting part.
Bring something bigger.
I have a lot of things to discover and learn, but I arrive with the search for excellence, the desire to get out of my comfort zone.
Did you hesitate?
Not long.
We quickly came to an agreement.
We were aligned on most of the topics, on what I could bring.
The reflection was quite quick even if I did not rush.
Amélie Mauresmo appointed Director of the Roland-Garros tournament.
She is the first woman at the helm of Roland-Garros.
#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/WIQL1dkeaU
- FFT (@FFTennis) December 9, 2021
You succeed Guy Forget with whom you have strong ties ...
Great things have been done by Guy, but we will try to go even further.
There is a common trust with Gilles and Amélie.
I will meet your expectations.
We saw that Yannick Noah had regretted the way of proceeding of the Federation?
I have had them since, we are in contact.
I spoke at length with Guy.
Everything that links us with Yannick or Guy goes beyond what is happening today.
We are close, there are strong enough bonds between us so that this is not a problem.
There is nothing personal about this choice.
Was being the director of Roland-Garros one day one of your goals?
I never had a career plan.
I had goals as a player but after my career I mainly functioned according to the opportunities that were offered to me, what spoke to me, the challenges offered.
It was never a wish or a thought.
How do you see this new role?
There is a part of proximity with the players, a part related to the programming of the tournament, a part with partners and the media. There will be exchanges, debates, but I want to be a force for proposals to have a larger role than what one could imagine for this position from a former player. I have a lot of things to learn, I arrive with a lot of humility but also with desire and ambition for the tournament. The cogs of such an event I do not know them. The teams in place are super competent, that will nourish me. I can not wait to be there. But it's still a bit abstract for the moment. I need to understand how such an event works. I was director of the Open GDF Suez (
WTA indoor tournament in Paris
) but it has nothing to do with this big machine.
Do you have an ambition, a project for Roland-Garros in the coming years?
I do not plan for the moment.
I already need to roll up my sleeves and get into the files.
There is the idea of looking into the filling of the stadium, the boxes, of being a united, inclusive event, of developing healthy sport… I would like children to dream again in front of Roland-Garros.
I have ideas but it's still too vague.
There are four Grand Slam tournaments, perhaps the first challenge would be to be the player's favorite.
The darling.
You are the first female director of Roland-Garros ...
It's a pride, obviously, but I hope that I was also taken for my skills and for what I can bring.
We must also highlight something other than my genre.
I would like this question not to be asked any more and for us to move towards something more egalitarian, whatever the genre.