J. TSONGA/C. Rochus 6‑2, 6‑2, 6‑2 Q. I want to know your opinion about Juan Martin Del Potro. JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: He's a very good player. He improve his tennis a lot last months, and, yeah, I know it's going to be difficult. I will prepare this match with a lot of motivation, and that's it. Q. Del Potro said you will be the favorite because you are playing here in your country. Do you think the same? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: No, I feel nothing. For me it's going to be a new match, and we play... Read Full Story
J. TSONGA/J. Benneteau 6‑4, 3‑6,6‑3, 6‑4 Q. You put the tie on just for us? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: And for you and also for me. I'm happy I played my first match. This is my first victory here. I celebrate this victory like this. THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please. Q. So it's a real relief that you won finally here. Was it really the challenge for this match? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: It is important for me, yes. It's my first victory here in the French Open. I played Julien ‑‑ last time I... Read Full Story
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie, singles and doubles No.1 seeds, traveled via police escort to Soweto (South Western Townships) on Wednesday to meet and coach some of the sprawling township’s kids at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre in White City, Jabavu. They spent more than an hour running through basic training drills with the youngest kids, while hitting with or coaching the future generation of South African tennis players, some of whom had never picked up a racquet... Read Full Story
The SA Tennis Open, an ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament, is returning to the ATP World Tour circuit for the first time since 1995. And Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is the favourite player to win at this tennis tournament. “I know there is Marcos Baghdatis and David Ferrer to watch out for this week. They are good players but I’m here to get through the draw and go all the way,” Tsonga said. Born in Le Mans 23 years ago to a French mother and Congolese father, Tsonga says his appearance at the... Read Full Story
"You must LOVE me...and my muscles." Thanks to everyone who participated in the DtL's first weekly poll featuring Aussie Open fave Andy Murray . Based on your votes, an overwhelming 42% of readers think the Brit baller will at least make the finals while 28% believed he'll get that much-needed suntan while still longing for Ross Hutchins sightings (get in line). That result was closely followed by 22% of readers who think his results will mimic last year's when he was knocked out of the... Read Full Story
J. DEL POTRO/J. Tsonga 6‑1, 6‑7, 6‑1,6‑4 Q. What's your feeling against this excellent player on clay? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Well, I'm sad, because I lost of course. Given the game I developed, I shouldn't have too many regrets. I was lucky enough to win one set, and yet I'm disappointed because that was a round of 16. I wanted to reach quarterfinals against Robredo, so I wanted to win the match. So I'm disappointed. Q. (No microphone.) JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Well, that's true. You know, I couldn... Read Full Story
Question. Now it is a very good moment for the French tennis, how much more it can improve? A. It is good to have three players in the Top 10 and we push each other up all the time. But I don’t want to stop there, I want to win another Masters 1000 title and a Grand Slam. Q. What is the most difficult or hard in the live of a tennis player? A. Sometimes it is hard to spend a lot of time on planes or at the airports but we cannot complain, we have a pretty good life as tennis players. Q. You... Read Full Story
Q. How would you rate your performance tonight? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: It's a big performance for me because James is a good player. For me it was really important to win today, to access the quarterfinal. No, it was really important for me. Q. How do you feel to be back in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: I feel good. How I can feel bad (smiling)? Q. Better than last year? JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: No, the same. For me it's gonna be a new round and against Verdasco. I... Read Full Story
World number 11, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , and number 10, Gael Monfils , suffered another setback in their Roland Garros preparation campaigns as they both pulled out of the Barcelona Open next week. The French duo, who both haven't had any proper action on clay so far (Monfils lost in Monte Carlo first round, Tsonga didn't play), sited knee problems as the main reason behind their withdrawal from Barcelona. "Jo is training in Geneva at the moment and felt something in his right knee," said... Read Full Story
