During the General Assembly of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), which was held on December 14, 2024 at the Roland-Garros Stadium, Gilles Moreton was re-elected president for a second four-year term. With 61,19% of the votes collected against the competing list led by Germain Roesch, Moretton confirms the confidence of the delegates and representatives of the clubs affiliated to the FFT.

The outgoing president, elected for the first time in 2020, defended a record marked by strong actions for the development of tennis, padel, and other federal disciplines. He intends to continue this momentum with reinforced ambitions for clubs, volunteers and infrastructure.

An election marked by the debate of ideas

Facing Gilles Moretton, Germain Roesch, president of the Île-de-France League and former member of the FFT executive committee, had chosen to bring an alternative vision. While he recognizes the successes of the past mandate, Roesch criticized a certain lack of listening to clubs and volunteers, pointing out a gap between Moretton's initial program and its implementation.

Despite these criticisms, Gilles Moretton largely defended his record, recalling the 776 measures voted during his term of office, supported by an overwhelming majority by the executive committee. In a context where the FFT today exceeds the 1,1 million licensees, the re-elected president wants to continue to place the development of clubs and infrastructure at the heart of his strategy.

Padel, a central issue of the second mandate

Among Gilles Moretton's flagship projects is the development of the paddle, a discipline in full swing. The president highlighted several major advances made during his first term:

  • The creation of Greenweez Paris Major, a tournament held at Roland-Garros, which attracted 64 spectators in 000.
  • The upcoming opening of a National Training Center (CNE) in Vichy, comprising 12 padel courts to train the future French elite.
  • A stated ambition to build 6 padel courts by 2028, with a focus on community clubs.

Support for clubs and promotion of volunteers

One of the key issues of this election was the promotion of clubs and volunteers, pillars of the French associative model. Gilles Moretton has promised to strengthen financial aid to clubs, with a budget that could reach 60 million on his next term. These funds will be used in particular to modernize infrastructure, build padel courts, or support innovative projects.

A vision focused on the future

With this re-election, Gilles Moretton intends to consolidate the foundations laid since 2020 and continue the structuring of the FFT around three major axes:

Infrastructure development, particularly for padel and emerging disciplines such as pickleball.
Growth of licensees, by converting recreational practitioners into competitors.
The sustainability of flagship events such as the Greenweez Paris Major or Roland-Garros, while diversifying local initiatives.

A constructive opposition

Although Germain Roesch did not win this election, his candidacy raised important points, particularly on the role of volunteers and club governance. By placing local stakeholders at the centre of his programme, he brought a different voice to this electoral debate.

The challenge of the next four years for Gilles Moreton will be to continue the projects undertaken.

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