Tessah Andrianjafitrimo coached her boyfriend Ugo Humbert to two titles in 2024 (Image: Getty)
A player-coach partnership is almost like a relationship. Athletes try to find someone who feels like the best fit for them before they ultimately part ways – sometimes on good terms, sometimes in a messy breakup.
But one player took it to the next level earlier this year, enlisting his girlfriend as a temporary mentor when his usual coach wasn’t around.
Ugo Humbert usually works with retired pro Jeremy Chardy. But, while his coach wasn’t around, Tessah Andrianjafitrimo stepped into the role like a natural.
A professional tennis player on the WTA circuit with a career-high of No. 139, she proved to be something of a lucky charm – Humbert’s only titles this year came when Andrianjafitrimo was the “coach”.
Humbert, Andrianjafitrimo, and Chardy have now opened up about the unusual two-time coaching stint, telling why she was the perfect stand-in and whether it could be a future career.
“It was nice because I won my two titles with her in Marseille and Dubai also, without my coach,” Humbert said. “She was my only coach. It was nice to be together and she plays tennis too so we speak the same language.”
Going from girlfriend to coach could have blurred the lines, leaving Andrianjafitrimo in an awkward position where she had to balance Humbert’s feelings with her advice. But both of them navigated their working relationship with ease, crediting the honesty in their relationship.
The world No. 13 continued: “She can tell me everything. She knows me perfectly so when I see her, she can give me a lot of her energy and confidence too. That’s why I love her because she can talk to me and tell me the truth. Sometimes it’s difficult but I really like it, it’s better to improve.”
Tessah Andrianjafitrimo stepped into Ugo Humbert’s box during her injury layoff (Image: Instagram @tessahandrian)
Don’t miss…
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Andrianjafitrimo added: “It’s different when it’s not you on the court and even more when you love the person and you don’t want that person feeling bad or sad.
“But I guess I knew how to switch my mind to stay focused on what meaning: mindset. Our relationship is based on honesty. Always. On all the subjects.
“So when it’s about tennis, how’s the most important part of our life actually, it’s serious. So he knows that I’m not here to be a nice or a kind girlfriend, I’m just here to tell him what it is, so I’m not afraid to be honest.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Andrianjafitrimo’s main role was to offer emotional support, leaving the tactics to Chardy. She explained: “Tactics were not from me. When I needed I texted Jim or he sent me messages during the match and so I had my phone open on WhatsApp during the all match.
“But to be honest, I didn’t really mind about tactics, because even if I’m a player that was not my job. That was Jim’s job so I was just the ‘mouth’ of him not here.” And Humbert agreed.
“It was only for the mindset. The tactical [side] is not really important,” he claimed. “The most important is she knows me really well so I think it was emotional support and she will be there to give me the right mindset. She spoke together with [Chardy].”
Although Chardy stayed in touch with his charge, he credited Andrianjafitrimo’s knowledge and understanding. “I talk tactics directly with Ugo. She was with us a lot last year so we were watching the matches together so she knows the mentality and the mindset you need to have,” he described.
“When you’re a player, you know how you can help your partner and I think Ugo is someone who likes to be around people he loves and it makes him peaceful and more confident.”
Andrianjafitrimo has since returned to the ITF Tour. And she shared her gratitude to Humbert and his camp for inviting her in during her six-month injury layoff.
“I’m so grateful to him and his team for that. It was a hard time for me, and to get the chance to fight even if it’s in the player box, helped me to keep the fighting spirit and my goals in mind,” she noted.
Tessah Andrianjafitrimo stayed in contact with Ugo Humbert’s regular coach, Jeremy Chardy (Image: Getty)
Her comments will be music to Humbert’s ears, as the six-time title winner said: “I hope [it helped her], It’s not easy when you’re a tennis player and you can’t be on court in a tournament so to be with me, I think she keeps the hope to come back and the energy and the motivation to be in the tournaments.”
While the current world No. 296 is busy competing, Humbert and Chardy both believe she could be a great coach when she eventually retires. “After her career I think she could be a really great coach because she’s someone who takes the time to understand,” her boyfriend explained.
Chardy added: “First you need to want to do it, not everyone wants to be a coach. Once you do it, you have to enjoy it. It’s not easy, it’s completely different because when you are a player, everything is for yourself. But I think she would be a really good coach. She has a great mentality so it helps a lot.”
However, Andrianjafitrimo doesn’t sound convinced. “I’m always there if Ugo needs me for sure but coaching full time not sure if I would really like it,” she confessed. “I loved it because it’s Ugo, but for someone else I don’t know.”