The Jo-Wilfred Tsonga Debate

Written by: Resendiz on 28th September 2011

The Jo-Wilfred Tsonga Debate

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France serves to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their Quarterfinals round match on the eleventh day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 08 September 2011. The US Open has been extended due to weather for the fourth year in a row and the men's final will now be played on 12 September 2011. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

First off Tsonga is perhaps the most gifted of the “Very Talented and Very Underachieving Frenchmen.” This is an enigmatic list that includes five Musketeers, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Michael Llorda. Charismatic players with high rankings and great skills who can win the odd tournament, but not much more.

Is it fair to put Tsonga in this list, or is he more than that?

Remember back in 2008 when the Muhammed Ali lookalike blitzed through opponents. He reached the Australian open final as a no name, beating Murray in the first round and Nadal in the semis.

That same year he rocketed up the rankings to a high of six and collected trophies in Bangkok and Paris. Opponents watched in awe of a showman who could thunder a forehand down the line or drop-volley within centimetres of the net. 2009 included titles in Johannesburg, Marseille and Tokyo.

Tsonga was on the rise and thus joined a new category known as “The Big Hitters without Slams who can beat the Biggest Names with Slams,” a group that includes Soderling, Murray and Berdych. Players with stature and hard hitting games, players who are not intimidated by and on occasion dispatch of the big three- Djokiovic, Nadal and Federer.

Tsonga’s win at Metz was his first tournament win since Toyko two years ago. As great as an achievement this was, the Frenchman is capable of so much more and only seems to delight on the big stage.

Half of Jo-Wilfred’s tournament successes have come on home soil. His most memorable victories have come at the biggest venues. Remember the two sets to love comeback against Federer at Wimbledon. The crowd knew they were watching an epic, Tsonga knew he was part of it. Federer played into the hands of the entertainer. The harder the passing shot the bigger the dive. Seemingly to win Federer should have played boring. After the win Tsonga was quoted as saying “If you give to fans they give to you. I try to give everything. I try to fight, and then they support me.”

So what happens when the fans don’t give? Is Tsonga unable to find this level of emotion by himself? Why, if crowd doesn’t respond does the passion wane? Does a showman play only to the crowd? Should an opponent try and bore him to gain victory. If the venue is wrong does the charismatic Frenchman switch off? Does he play purely to passion, respond only to emotion?

With the ATP tour finals looming we will see where Jo- Wilfred Tsonga wants to belong and how far his emotions alone can take him.

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