Former professional tennis player Amelie Oudea-Castera has been appointed Director General of the FFT, replacing the outgoing Jean-Francois Vilotte.

Oudea-Castera, who was selected by new FFT President Gilles Moretton, has a wealth of experience – both on and off the tennis court.

A former junior national under 14 and under 16 champion, she also reached the girls’ singles semi-finals at the US Open in 1993, and Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 1994. At the latter, a certain Martina Hingis denied her a place in the final.

In her professional career, she peaked at No. 251 in the WTA rankings in May 1995 – and was ranked at No. 18 in the French national rankings.

After her playing career ended, Oudea-Castera completed her studies in law at the top business schools in France and forged an illustrious business career. She rose through the ranks in audit, marketing and digital at the Cour des Comptes (the government spending watchdog), and as Director of Strategy and then Director of Marketing and Digital at the AXA Group, before joining the Executive Committee of the Carrefour Group.

She also founded and chairs the ‘Renovons le sport francais’ (Renew French Sport) association in her home country in 2018.

Oudea-Castera will lead the FFT’s strategic roadmap and manage the daily operations of the FFT departments.