It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The perfect ending, and yet no way to go. There were always going to be tears on Court Philippe Chatrier when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga finally bade farewell to the sport he has graced with such distinction. That they came at the conclusion of an epic match against a player few expected him to beat felt about right; Tsonga always was one for upsetting the odds. But that they came after fate handed him one last injury, a shoulder problem that set in with the Frenchman poised to force a deciding set against Casper Ruud, the world’s eighth best player, was just plain cruel.
For three hours and 36 minutes, Tsonga looked set to leave the big stage in a swashbuckling hail of blazing forehands and thunderous serves – much as he first entered it 14 years ago, when his beguiling combination of irresistible power and brawny athleticism propelled him to the final of the Australian Open. But he is 37 now, and for too long his body has been bedevilled by injury. Serving for the fourth set at 6-5, he muttered inaudibly after missing his first delivery, then bowled in a tame second ball that Ruud swatted away for a winner. It was immediately clear something was very wrong.
When the pattern repeated itself on the next point, Tsonga winced and beat his forehead in frustration, his features briefly crumpling with emotion. His career was over in all but name. Yet he fought on through the pain and, although he won just one more point, he finished as he wanted to – on the court, rather than the treatment table.
“Emotionally speaking, I was in a very special condition,” said Tsonga, who received medical attention before succumbing to a 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) defeat. “I thought, no, no, no, not now, not now, you’ve got to go for it. You have to play. You wanted to be here. You wanted to fight until the very last point. No time for emotions now.
“I could feel the tears in my eyes, but then when I was on the court, because I said before, you’ve got to go for it, that was good for me. I said, ‘There is a match to be played.’ That’s what I did, I delivered on that match.”
And deliver he did. It was an afternoon for rolling back the years, for tracking down balls with the muscular athleticism of old, for playing on the front foot – and, as ever, with both feet frequently off the ground – just as he always has. How the Parisian crowd loved him for it. Tsonga has long held a special place in the affections of his public, and their support was unwavering until the end. Trumpets blared. Drums crashed. Tsonga’s name was chanted lustily and often.
When the Frenchman broke at 5-5 in the fourth set, a barrage of huge forehands finally forcing an error from the indefatigable Ruud, there was pandemonium, the atmosphere more akin to a football match than a tennis match. As the home crowd belted out a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise, it felt as though the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, due to be contested at the Stade de France on Saturday night, had rolled into town a few days early. Ironically, Tsonga probably already knew by then that his fate was sealed, the damage having been done on the last of those battering-ram forehands. He had risen to the occasion quite magnificently, but he was done.
Ruud played his part, his icy composure and consistency the perfect foil to the unbridled emotion emanating from the stands. He made no complaint when Tsonga was treated before the tiebreak, and embraced his opponent warmly at the net once it was done. The Norwegian is a class act. Struggling to contain his emotions much like everyone else, Ruud spoke eloquently afterwards of the inspiration he had drawn from Tsonga, whose run to the final at Melbourne Park in 2008 he recalled watching as a slightly miffed nine-year-old Nadal fan.
“So many good memories watching Jo on TV,” Ruud told Fabrice Santoro in his on-court interview. “I remember because, when I was growing up, my favourite player was Rafa, and you beat Rafa on the way to the final in Australia. So for me when I was nine, I was a sad boy. But after I learned that he’s such a great guy, a nice person on and off the court, and the perfect example of what I think tennis players should be like and [how they should] behave. He’s always brought a good show to the court, so it’s been on an honour to watch him.”
The French Tennis Federation laid on a befittingly good show, too, inviting a host of key figures in Tsonga’s life and career on to the court, from a string of former coaches to his parents, wife and children. The great and the good of French tennis shared the moment, FFT president Gilles Moretton and former Wimbledon champion Amélie Mauresmo, now the tournament director, looking on as Gilles Simon, Benoît Paire, Richard Gasquet, Gaël Monfils and Ugo Humbert arrived on court. All were greeted by Tsonga with a heartfelt embrace.
After a series of video messages from the traditional big four of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – all of whom he claimed grand slam victories over – Tsonga delivered an emotional address.
“I’m the kind of player who wanted to show resilience from a very young age,” said Tsonga. “I’m going to stay the person I am, I’m going to try and stay active, and do as well as I can. I’ve had days that have been fabulous and days that have not been so good. I’m a French player, I’m a Swiss player, I’m a Congolese player, I’m a black player, I’m a white player, I’m a decorated player, I’m a father.
“I’ve had great moments in tennis, in my travels, and through my adventure. It’s been quite wonderful. I’m now standing in front of you without my racket, along with my best friends of 30 years. Thank you Noura for being alongside me. My family have become now my priority. Thank you tennis. I love you.”
Tsonga leaves the sport with a distinguished CV, but also a sense of talent unfulfilled. He was twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, but never quite had his Yannick Noah moment. He reached two Wimbledon semi-finals, and can lay claim to the rare distinction of a victory over Federer on Centre Court, but never quite made the final breakthrough there either. An Australian Open final, 18 titles and an Olympic silver medal in doubles is no mean return, but on any list of the greatest players never to win a major, Tsonga’s name would surely be near the top.