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Ivan Ljubicic, Roger Federer's former coach, submitted his resignation as the French Olympic captain on Wednesday. This decision came after the country's catastrophic campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The French team entered the Olympics with much promise but ultimately failed to live up to the expectations. It was the first time since the Atlanta Olympics that no player or team from the country had managed to reach the quarter-final stage in tennis.
Addressing the press following the country's exit on Wednesday, Ljubicic conceded that the results were 'catastrophic' and that he was responsible for their shortcomings.
“The results are catastrophic. This is the reality, we absolutely must take our responsibilities,” Ljubicic was quoted as saying by L’Equipe.
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The Croat then went on to offer his resignation while admitting that he failed to get the players ready in time.
“I have already spoken with the president. Today, I am also responsible for the French team and I offered my resignation from this position because we failed to prepare the players,” Ljubicic added.
Dwelling deeper on the issue, Ljubicic also conceded that four of the doubles pairing hadn't played a match together in the lead-up to the tournament.
“The fact that four doubles teams never played a match together before the Olympics is hard to understand,” Ljubicic added. “I think we need to say things. We must take responsibility. I don’t know what the president will decide.”
Ljubicic, a former world No. 3, began his partnership with the FFT two years ago. He was given the title of ‘director of Ambition 2024.’
Ljubicic's primary tasks included improving the overall quality of the French players on tour, while also trying to bring them Grand Slam success, a feat that has eluded the nation for over ten years.
How did France fare in tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Ugo Humbert entered the draw as the highest-ranked Frenchman, seeded tenth. He reached the second round, where he was beaten in three sets by Francisco Cerundolo.
Arthur Fils seeded fourteenth, failed to register a win as he was defeated by Matteo Arnaldi of Italy in the first round. Veteran Gael Monfils didn't fare much better as he went down to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in his opener. Corentin Moutet was the only French player to reach the third round, where he lost 7-5, 6-3 to Tommy Paul.
On the women's side, Diane Parry and Clara Burel progressed to the second round but succumbed to Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk, respectively. Caroline Garcia lost her opener to Jaqueline Cristian, while Varvara Gracheva lost her first-round encounter to Beatriz Haddad Maia.
No doubles team managed to pick up more than one win. Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin were taken down in round two by Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz. Humbert and Fils failed to register a win as they went down to Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in their opener.
In the women'd doubles, Parry and Garcia won their opener but succumbed to Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in the subsequent round. Gracheva and Burel lost their opener 6-1, 7-5 to Leylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski.
Garcia and Édouard Roger-Vasselin paired up in the mixed doubles but were ousted in the first round by an inspired Kei Nishikori and Ena Shibahara.
