You will find following, a Christopher Clarey’s article, from the New York Times, August 1995, telling about the program that I was in charge, and lead to many great players, and especially doubles player.
Players still at the top, with Leander Paes, Mark Knowles, and Mahesh Bhupathi qualified for the Masters doubles in Shanguai 2008. (see other article Proud of Mark, Leander and Mahesh)
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On this photo
Tamer ElSawy – Mahesh Bhupathi – Jacques Hervet – Claude N’Goran – Wayne Black
TENNIS; Tennis Federation’s Goal: Putting Third World First
The New York Times
By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY
Published: August 26, 1995
The Egyptian beat the American yesterday, which is not the way the cookie normally crumbles on a tennis court.
But if the International Tennis Federation has its druthers, victories like Tamer el-Sawy’s over Steve Bryan in the second round of United States Open qualifying will not raise quite so many eyebrows in the years to come.
The federation’s short-term goal is not necessarily a Grand Slam singles title for the Third World; its goal is development, and to that end, the federation continues to subsidize a small, elite group of promising players from nations lacking in funds, tennis tradition and infrastructure.
The players hail from places like Harare, Madras and Abidjan and their rankings are inevitably in triple, not double, digits.
"The idea is to create an opportunity for talented people in a sport that is incredibly competitive and expensive at the top level," said Jacques Hervet, a 34-year-old Frenchman who coaches el-Sawy and the two other players currently on the federation challenger team: Wayne Black of Zimbabwe and Claude N’Goran of the Ivory Coast. Ivan Molina, a former touring pro, coaches a handful of players on the federation’s B team.
For the most part, the players pay their own travel expenses (N’Goran, for one, has received extra assistance), but coaching at this level is often the difference between first-round loser and qualifier.
"The I.T.F. gives us Jacques for free, and that’s all we need," said Black, whose brother Byron, one of the world’s top doubles players, is one of the program’s early success stories. "I would not be able to afford a coach right now on my own, so this is helping me a lot."
Other players who have spent time under Hervet include Leander Paes, who carried India to the Davis Cup semifinals in 1993; Younes el-Aynaoui of Morocco, who reached the fourth round at the French Open this year, and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, currently ranked fifth in the world in doubles.
"I think it’s a great concept," Knowles said. "A lot of us have gotten pretty close. We all play soccer together during our off time, and there is kind of a team spirit, which is nice in an individualistic sport."
So far, Hervet’s pupils and alumni are faring rather well at Flushing Meadows. Knowles, Paes, Wayne Black and el-Sawy all have advanced to today’s final round of qualifying. And yesterday, they spent the afternoon circulating between each other’s matches (Knowles and Paes won’t have to circulate to stay in touch today; they are playing each other).
Team Photo
top left Mark Knowles- Leander Paes – Sule Ladipo
top right Byron Black – Leander Paes
bottom left Jacques Hervet – Youness ElAynaoui – Leander Paes
bottom right Wayne Black – Mahesh Bhupathi
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Jacques Hervet 