Noah Sees Current French Players Not Strong Enough

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 31st May 2013

Noah Sees Current French Players Not Strong Enough

epa01894545 Yannick Noah of France returns the ball to Stefan Edberg of Sweden during their match for the third place of the gala tournament Tennis Classics in Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary, 11 October 2009. EPA/PETER KOLLANYI HUNGARY OUT |

Yannick Noah, the last home player to win the French Open 30 years ago, has little faith that any current compatriot can duplicate his 1983 record at the French Open. The 53-year-old, now a pop star, electrified his nation when he won the Roland Garros title. But aside from a finals appearance half a decade later from Henri Leconte, that has been it for chances of French glory.

Noah recalls the day when he beat Swede Mats Wilander for the trophy, which came 37 years after the previous French honor claimed by Marcel Bernard in 1946.

Noah was pessimistic on his younger countrymen at this edition, rating their time as “not now – not this generation. It’s not that I think they are no good. It’s just that the guys ahead of them are stronger.”

Noah told French media: “Jo (-Wilfried Tsonga) is capable of beating a top five player at any time, if he plays an exceptional match, but he can’t do that twice in a row. Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, over five sets, they are just better.”

“Jo hasn’t been as fortunate as I was, that’s for sure. I think that overall we have similar levels, it’s just that a door opened up for me. There was one guy to beat (that year) – Lendl – and I crushed him (in the quarter-finals). Against Mats, at that time, I had no problems. I was able to dominate him with my game.”

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tennismecca says:

May 31, 2013 at 7:26 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Noah Sees Current French Players Not Strong Enough: Yannick Noah, the last home player to win the Frenc… http://t.co/O3…