Tennis Canada has not only secured the services of a good head of tennis to replace Sylvain Bruneau as head of the women’s side. Noëlle Van Lottum is also a wife, a mother, a former professional player and an experienced coach. That’s enough, she believes, to prove she belongs.
The 51-year-old Dutchwoman landed in Montreal on August 18. Driving her car last Friday, she continued to roam the city, her new home, when she answered the call from La Presse.
“It looks a lot like the European style. It’s multicultural,” she observed from her arrival.
The conversation started in English, until she clarified that she was “half French and half Dutch”.
As she was born to a French-speaking mother, the French fact is one of the reasons that convinced Noëlle Van Lottum to respond positively to Tennis Canada’s proposal when it came time to find someone to take over. by Sylvain Bruneau.
Guillaume Marx, head of performance at Tennis Canada, dropped a phone call in May. “I was asked if I was interested. I was then working for the Federation of Great Britain. I was in charge of the national center for 14-18 year olds for boys and girls,” she says.
After the Roland-Garros tournament, she came to Montreal to visit the facilities of the IGA stadium. The sample was quite convincing. At the end of June, she knew that a new adventure was beginning.
If Marx thought of Van Lottum, it is obviously because she had a value. Something to offer to the development of women’s tennis. “I think I can identify with several people and several situations,” said the principal. First, I am a woman. Second, I’m a mom. Third, I was a top player. I have coached girls who have been top 20 in the world and I have worked in several federations. I also ran an academy with my ex-husband in Holland. »
“I’ve been in tennis all my life. I never got out of tennis. When I ended my career, I started coaching. I have a good vision of things and I saw how things had evolved after my career. I am passionate and ambitious. »
Van Lottum therefore crosses the Atlantic to continue to live his passion. Comfortably installed in Great Britain, she was seduced by the welcome of the people of the Canadian federation.
But she also knows how promising Canadian tennis, especially on the women’s side, is. “The way they were able to train young people to this level… It means that people were really involved and ambitious. And I like it. »
Two Maple Leaf players are in the world top 100: Bianca Andreescu, 51st, and Leylah Annie Fernandez, 72nd. Rebecca Marino knocks on the door, in 101st position.
Before dwelling too specifically on the data provided by the ranking, she first wants to ensure continuity, so that the successes become perpetual. “There is always a wave. We can have super athletes with very good performances, but behind it, we must also continue to generate success in other players. »
Sylvain Bruneau has become a benchmark over the years. A respected person and an adored coach. Does Van Lottum, then, feel any pressure to sit in the seat vacated by Bianca Andreescu’s former coach?
“I can’t find it,” she replies.
“It’s wonderful what Sylvain did. He has an incredible resume. People appreciate it,” she swears.
She even witnessed it. “When I came in June, he had a lot of class. He congratulated me on my position. He was very friendly. »
Without reforming what has been established over the past ten years, it wants to be able to put its own color to it. It does not happen above a white sheet on which all the contours are to be defined. She must rather change the colors of a drawing that is already finished, but which certainly needs a few touch-ups.
“I will try to have my own values. Me, it’s me. He is him. I will try to do my best in bringing freshness to try and help Tennis Canada continue to produce great players. It’s our job to try to do that the best we can. »
