Very satisfied with the qualification of his players for the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup after having eliminated Great Britain at home (3-1) on Saturday, the French captain Julien Benneteau was on the other hand very upset against the ITF, the international tennis federation, “below everything”, according to him.
How would you sum up this close but controlled game?
“There was confirmation that they are great competitors, confirmation of their attachment to the France team. These are efforts, given the calendar, concessions to be made in order to be able to perform well in a meeting like this. We knew it was going to be difficult, it was. But they knew how to be present in the important moments, to surpass themselves, to go beyond their fears or their frustration and the problems that the British posed to them. And that is super strong.”
Was it the experience that made the difference in the end?
“Experience is super important. But it is also their level of play, what they are able to do throughout the year that is important because they are able to find resources thanks to that at certain times. Now, nothing is acquired, it is always a questioning, tennis. But there are things they can build on also thanks to this weekend for the rest of the season, that’s for sure.
As qualified, France could be a candidate to host the finals, would you like it?
“Obviously hosting a finals and playing at home is an advantage. But apart from the date and the format, we do not know the specifications. I discussed a few seconds with Gilles Moretton (president of the FFT) on this subject, so it is very hard to decide one way or the other. It should nevertheless be pointed out that the ITF representative present at this meeting does not know what specifications should be sent to any interested countries. This shows how the ITF has been below everything for many years in these competitions, whether with the Davis Cup or the BJK Cup. It’s time for them to find a lasting solution. We took a delay because we wanted to change the formula. In 2019 (last French victory, editor’s note), we play in Belgium the first round, there are people, we play in France in front of 5,000 people against Romania and we play in front of 15,000 people in Perth in the final. And when you win over there by performing a feat, you are received at the Elysée. So I think the competition was widely recognized for its fair value. This competition had its place in the calendar, but by wanting to change the format, they shot themselves in the foot.
