Frederic Fontang approaches coaching with the precision of a builder, shaping players step by step and refining details over time. His work is in the spotlight this October, highlighting a career defined by patient planning and steady growth.
A former professional who reached No. 59 in the ATP Rankings, Fontang retired in 1999 and opened an academy in Pau, France. He began coaching Jeremy Chardy at age 12 and guided him for 11 years, taking the Frenchman from junior promise to the Top 30.
Coaching Career Highlights
After Chardy, Fontang spent two years with Caroline Garcia as she moved from the junior circuit to the WTA Tour. In 2012, he joined Tennis Canada to coach Vasek Pospisil, then ranked No. 140. Over four successful seasons, Pospisil rose to a career-high No. 25 in singles and No. 4 in doubles.
Fontang now leads the team of Felix Auger-Aliassime, a partnership that started when the Canadian was 16. He spent the first two years in a co-coaching setup with Guillaume Marx before taking the helm. Since they began working together in 2017, Auger-Aliassime has climbed as high as No. 6 in the ATP Rankings and claimed seven tour-level titles, including two this year in Adelaide and Montpellier.
His method is holistic. He balances technical, tactical, physical, and mental development with careful scheduling of tournaments, practice, and recovery. He views the modern coach as both teacher and manager, coordinating fitness, mental training, and nutrition while maintaining a broad understanding across these areas. The aim is to educate the player while continually updating his own knowledge.
Fontang is known as a lifelong learner. He draws ideas from a wide range of subjects, from politics and geopolitics to finance and sports science, and he reads broadly to spark new approaches. Much of his inspiration comes from coaching figures in other sports, including basketball’s most decorated leaders, reflecting his belief that lessons from team environments can improve work in tennis.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, and a father of two, Fontang grew up watching champions like Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander. Decades later, his blueprint remains the same: build patiently, manage the process, and let results follow.