In 2007 the DTN listed 130 professional players. For men, 80 players, 14 of whom are in the top 100 and 42 are in the top 500 on March 1, 2008. For women, 50 players, including 10 in the top 100 and 27 in the top 500. Of these 130 players Only 70 professionals would make a living from tennis, the rest having to combine their passion with a student life in particular.

The pool of French players has decreased since 2009. 2009 is a symbolic year for French women's tennis since it is the retirement of Amélie Mauresmo, the last figure of the “1979 generation” and the last French number 1 in the world. Between 2009 and 2015 a constant decrease in the number of French players in the top 100 is observed. Moreover, at the end of the 2015 season there were only three French players left in the world top 100 (see appendix 4) whereas in 2000, they were four in the top 20. Amélie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce or even Marion Bartoli have managed to impose themselves in Grand Chelem and finished a season between 2nd and 9th place in the world. The problem is that it masked the reality of the female rearguard. Indeed, today the best Frenchwoman, Kristina Mladenovic, is world No. 30 and her best result in grand chelem is only a quarter-finalist at the 2015 US Open. None are in the top 10 of the WTA rankings.

Nicolas Zebbar

Graduated from a Masters in sports management and passionate about tennis, I carried out a study on the development of women's tennis. Practicing this sport for twenty years and today manager of my club (TC Morlaàs in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques), I am always on the lookout for new ideas aimed at improving the practice environment for members. I am therefore delighted to be able to share this work.

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