Jeremy Chardy

France's Jeremy Chardy recorded just his fourth win of the year after he defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes. Chardy hit eight aces and converted five of 17 break point opportunities.

Well perhaps this explains Jeremy Chardy's 1-7 record on the ATP level this year. Many times this year he has looked aimless in his game. Well, sometimes he looks like this when winning, but now this news gives us reason for Chardy's poor mental state and play, including a loss 1st round in a challenger this week.

Chardy, who is 24 now, was coached for 12 years by Frederic Fontang. Chardy said in Monte-Carlo: "I needed to talk because it paralyzes me on court, I am unable to play, I completely lose confidence, I'm going back to basics and start with a Challenger. I am not sure I can continue my career."

This appears pretty serious and mentally draining and taxing. Apparently there was a contract that the two men signed when Chardy was 18 that ran until June 2012. But, Chardy broke off with Fontang and is now being coached by Patrick Mouratoglou. Says Chardy: "He (Fontang) made me sign a contract when I was 18 that bind me to him. I signed with eyes closed and now it asks me for money, more money, (around 600,000 Euro) and filed a complaint against me. If I pay what he demanded of me, I cannot pay my new teams and I'm not even sure I can continue my career. I never thought possible that he betray me like that."

This is some pretty heavy stuff. Frederic Fontang, meanwhile, claims he was "taken for a ride." Fontang says in his defense: "As I had made many sacrifices since the beginning of our collaboration, we agreed that I will be paid for success. It was based on a percentage of Chardy's prize money. We took great care when writing the contract when he was 18. It was much easier because Chardy's father is a banker, so he is familiar with the procedure. This contract came to an end, we had to renew it because Jeremy's career evolved. Again, everything was done with a nature of transparency."

So Chardy is accusing Fontang of extortion while Fontang is accusing Chardy of breach of contract. It should be a very interesting legal battle.

WLT: The picture painted by Jérémy Chardy was not exactly favourable to you. What’s your side of the facts?
Fontang: The truth is that we separated at the Australian Open, but it was already clear for quite a while that the situation was delicate. Jérémy Chardy’s life had changed and I no longer wanted to be acting as a buffer. So, the separation seemed inevitable. Since I made a lot of sacrifices since the beginning of our collaboration, we came to the agreement that I would be paid based on success, meaning: based on future earnings of Jérémy Chardy. Once he reached the age of 18, it was time to put things into writing and we were very careful in doing so. It was made easier by the fact that his father is a banker, so he knows this type of procedure quite well. When that contract came to an end, we needed to renew it because Jérémy’s career had evolved. Again, all of this was done in all transparency. So, I never blackmailed his parents. I simply added a bit of pressure when I sensed that we would continue to work together without an up-to-date contract. Today, I’m simply fighting to get my rights respected, because I think that I’ve done everything to make sure that Jérémy is surrounded by a strong team and that one day, we would be able to pick the fruits of that labour. And I also add his physiotherapist and his mental coach to this. I’m also fighting for the respect for the rights of trainers who take risks, who do not measure their time and who, from one moment to the next, find that they are not even entitled to some acknowledgment.

WLT : Acknowledgement or money ?
Fontang : I was very clear on that. Since the beginning, Jérémy Chardy received a fund from the federation. This fund allowed him to pay for things but not for everything. So, it was agreed upon that from the moment he started to have results, I would also earn more for my work. This seemed quite logical to me. It’s in this sense that the contracts were made up. Besides, I showed the workings of these agreements to my lawyer, a specialist in tennis matters, and he was neither surprised, nor shocked. It’s for this reason that I chose a lawyer who is familiar with the sport (note: Frédéric Fontang’s lawyer also works for Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga), so that we could go to court and put some light on these contracts.

WLT: is it true that you tried to settle it amicably?
Fontang : Of course, I did. But together with my lawyer, I quickly experienced that the opposing party was taking us for a ride.

WLT: So, you opted for the attack by sending a bailiff?
Fontang : There again, we first tried to do things more easily. We sent the notice beforehand to his father and of course, he didn’t receive it. So, the only choice we had left was to go to the tournament.

WLT: So, it was done on court. A bit over-the-top, isn’t it?
Fontang: It’s not what I wanted. Jérémy was warned three hours before his match but he played a cat and mouse game with the bailiff. So, we had no choice but to go on court.

WLT: Now that the “war” had erupted, are you certain that you want to go through with it?
Fontang: My career as a coach started with Jérémy Chardy. I sacrificed everything for this project. Besides, everything worked out well. His improvements were constant, there was a real osmosis between him and his team. Then, this “osmosis” was abruptly broken by a change in his life. Things got more complicated until it was impossible to manage. Today, I’ve digested it and I’m back to work. However, there are certain things I can not accept, that I should not have to accept. That they are now trying to paint me as the “bad guy” in this story, that’s not fair either.

WLT: What is your reply to Jérémy when he says that you the money you want keeps going up?
Fontang: It almost makes me smile because I know the figures. Those of Jérémy Chardy’s earnings (note: between 500.000 and 700.000 euros) and the percentages allocated to me and this is all within what’s normal. I also have the figures of the amount of money he received throughout those years when I was at his side.

This interview was done by telephone on Wednesday evening. (April 13)

Chardy lost very early in Monte Carlo 2011.

Chardy was left to lament his poor run of form since starring for France in a 3-2 Davis Cup win over Austria in March. “With the level I played today, I believe I could have lost against many players. After the Davis Cup, I had personal problems that made me lose my confidence. I think it shows on the court. I was feeling good and happy with my game, and now things are more difficult. I'm practising very hard, and I hope I will be able to play better again.”

Sixth-seeded wild card Jeremy Chardy got off to a winning start on his Casablanca debut when he beat World No. 112 Bjorn Phau 6-2, 7-5 in one hour and 40 minutes. Chardy hit six aces and converted four of 14 break point opportunities for his third tour-level win of the season. The pair last met at the SAP Open in San Jose in February 2010.

"I didn't play very well today, but it was a solid match and good enough to allow me to win," said Chardy. "I was a bit to defensive in the second set, but luckily I managed to win in two. I like playing on clay and I feel good physically going into the clay season. I'm very happy I finally won my first match on the tour this year."

Chardy got a WC for Casablanca and in 1st round he will play vs. Phau.

Jeremy Chardy has a virus and won't play Paris where he was in line for a wildcard.
He's got a virus and won't play again this year.

Chardy has withdrawn from next weeks event in New Haven.

Chardy is a mystery right now, looks completely lost out on court and seems to have injury or health issues.

He injured his wrist in a doubles match during the AO but told French media that his fitness was "perfect", but subsequent losses would have you thinking otherwise.

Heard an interview of him a week or so ago where he said - in so many words - that he was at a loss to explain his recent form rout, though there are some unconfirmed rumours floating around the Chardy fan forums that he has some sort of lung infection which doctors are having difficulty treating...

Chardy has pulled out of of Johannesburg next week citing a wrist injury.

He made the final last year so will lose a few points when the newer rankings are released.

If DavyDenko loses then Chardy can lose too coz they are both on my ticket