Last Sunday night a group of French players, coaches, and French officials, gathered near the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York to discuss the future direction of French tennis. The Federation was represented by Gilbert Ysern, director of the FFT and Roland Garros. Walter Bartoli was also present, but Marion was not.

Following the Federation's dismissal last week of national technical director Patrice Dominguez, the matter of who will be his successor is one of particular interest at the moment. A strong candidate for the position is Patrice Hagelauer. He is a former coach of Yannick Noah, and thought most likely to become Dominguez replacement.

From an outsiders perspective it can sometimes be hard to get a grasp on all the politics and motives that lie behind the FFT's Machiavellian struggles. Ysem said, "There was a phenomenon of progressive loss of trust between him (Dominguez) and elected officials."

Recently appointed French Tennis Federation president Jean Gachassin expanded, "It was difficult to work with Patrice Dominguez. There have been problems with other officials, it lasted for months. I tried to reconcile the positions, but he did not come. So I was obliged to submit the question of his dismissal to federal office." The Federal office decided, "that Patrice Dominguez was not the ideal man for the new organisation".

The phrase "the new organisation" is as good a starting point as any to get at the underlying issues. Dominguez was seen as belonging to, and tarnished by, the old regime presided over by Christian Bimes. Bimes himself was subject of a long running investigation into corruption during his tenure as FFT president.

Dominguez' style as technical director was to prioritise attention on a small number of elite players, in contrast to Gachassin's stated goal "to gather the family of tennis." A goal which finds favor among figures such as former top 10 player Guy Forget, France's last French Open champ Yannick Noah, and Amelie Mauresmo. All have been making positive noises.

The Federation seems to be placing a renewed emphasis on all French players upping their game, "I generally find that our girls are not ambitious enough, there is a difference between going to a tournament to win, and going to limit the damage" said Fed Cup captain Nicolas Escude this week.

Escude also voted for Dominguez dismissal. Escude says one of the pressing problems on the French women's side is that if Amelie Mauresmo stops, then the French are without a driving force.

"Marion Bartoli is not old" he said "But made her career in her own corner without annoying anyone, and therefore isn't destined to become the locomotive of French tennis." Escude said this week.

Back in January Escude had discussions with Marion and Walter concerning inclusion in the French Team for the Fed Cup. But afterwards Escude concluded, "We have great respect for eachother", but, "Marion and her father Walter have a way of operating totally incompatible with team competition and team spirit. They are the first to recognize this."

Nevertheless, one year ago this month Walter Bartoli was striking a quite concilliatory and optimistic tone, "I see a renewal around the French tennis circuit which may be interesting. It's going in the right direction because if we want progress, it is together that we can achieve." But asked about Fed Cup by L'Equipe's Dominique Bonnot, as recently as May 22nd Marion said, "For me the format of the Fed Cup is not good. Organization of this competition each year is staggered throughout the world. There should be a standard format like World Cup or Euro football. Every two years. There would be more interest."

So regardless of the comings and goings at Gordon Bennet Avenue, one constant is that Team Bartoli operate quite separate and independent of it all, on a quite different platform watching it all go by, and headed for a different destination to the mainstream. The anti-establishment is not a bad place to be is it? :.

Sources: RMC.fr / Eurosport.fr / welovetennis.fr / L'Equipe street edition

Thanks to Lighter for the alerts.