Status: 05/24/2022 7:01 p.m
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The 37-year-old Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ended his tennis career to the applause of the standing spectators on the Philippe Chatrier court.
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Tsonga had already announced ahead of the French Open that this year’s edition at the Stade Roland Garros would be his last tournament. Against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, Tsonga, who was number five in the tennis world ten years ago, once again showed all his skills. Cheered on by the French fans, who created a football atmosphere in the stadium right from the start, Tsonga pulled off some magic and won the first set 7-6 (8-6).
But as the game progressed, Tsonga noticed that he wasn’t the same anymore. Ruud won the other sets 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 0). In the end, the Frenchman from Le Mans was about to give up because, as is often the case in his career, he suffered an injury, this time to his shoulder. But Tsonga was spared a task in his last game. Tsonga still ended the match in tears.
Lots of wins, lots of injuries
During the final rally, the entire stadium stood and said goodbye to Tsonga in sporting retirement. “Both my head and my body told me it was time to stop,” said the former fifth in the world rankings before his 13th start at his home Grand Slam. After his last performance, Tsonga, whose family and companions were present at the stadium, was honored by the French Tennis Federation (FFT), the greatest moments of his career flickered over the video screens under the motto “Merci Jo”.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer paid tribute to the crowd’s favourite. “I hope the world can find as much peace as I have today,” Tsonga said in a moving speech. He has 18 tournament wins in his CV. Tsonga won a silver medal in doubles at the 2012 Olympics and is also the Frenchman with the most wins at major level (121) ahead of Gael Monfils (118), having helped his country to Davis Cup victory in 2017. At Grand Slam level, Tsonga reached five semifinals and even reached the final at the 2008 Australian Open. He was denied the coronation. Possibly also because the powerful athlete was repeatedly thrown back by injuries.
Those: sportschau.de
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