France’s national technical director Patrice Hagelauer on Sunday said that the country’s tennis federation would not be rushed into naming a successor to Davis Cup captain Guy Forget.
Forget, who was appointed in 1999 and took France to four Davis Cup finals, winning one championship in 2001, is standing down after the team’s quarter-final defeat against the United States.
Hagelauer said it was likely that a decision would not be announced before September.
“We’re in no rush. The next Davis Cup doesn’t start for another year. We’ll take our time to discuss with the players in the months to come, at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and at the Olympics,” he told reporters.
Hagelauer said that a number of former players had the profile to take over the job but refused to be drawn on whether Arnaud Clement — frequently cited as favourite — was in the frame, or others like Nicolas Escude and Sebastien Grosjean.
“There are some outstanding candidates, and he (Clement) is one of them. But I don’t want to give a particular name because that wouldn’t be fair on the others,” he added.
“All I can say is that we need someone who has the same mentality as Guy and who’s up to the task.”
USA to play Spain in Davis Cup semi-finals: The United States will face holders Spain in the last four of the Davis Cup later this year, after they both took unassailable 3-1 leads over France and Austria in their quarter-final matches on Sunday.
In Monte Carlo, John Isner beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-3 while in Oropesa del Mar, David Ferrer won in straight sets against Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
The semi-final tie — a repeat of last year’s quarter-final — will take place in Spain in September.
France’s defeat robbed Guy Forget of taking his team to the finals for the fifth and final time since he was appointed in 1999. He now steps down after contesting 14 Davis Cups.
Speaking to the crowd at the Monte Carlo Country Club afterwards, an emotional Forget said of his time in the job: “It’s been long but it’s been fantastic. Thanks to you and because of my friends, it’s been the best time of my life.
“Thanks to you I’ve dreamed and I’m still dreaming,” Forget said, with tears in his eyes, vowing to keep backing the team in the future.
Under his watch, France have made it to four Davis Cup finals and won once, in 2001.
