Tsonga Facing Slow Recovery From Wimbledon Injury

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 3rd October 2013

Tsonga Facing Slow Recovery From Wimbledon Injury

epa03761084 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in between games against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 26 June 2013. EPA/TOM HEVEZI |

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga admits that his recovery from a knee injury is a long, drawn-out affair which could well affect his chances of qualifying for a place in the eight-man World Tour Finals which wrap up the ATP season next month.

Tsonga made his exit in Tokyo where he won the event in 2009, losing to Croatian Ivan Dodig in straight-sets. The Frenchman explained that coming back from the injury which forced him to quit a Wimbledon match and kept him away for nearly three months will be a lengthy process.

He said that doctors tell him he will have to manage his pain for another two months in a five-month recovery but that it is safe for him to play. “I can’t say I’m shocked by this result,” said the provisional No. 10 in the race to London, “When you are playing with one and a half legs instead of two, it can happen.

“I’m coming back from injury and I was always chasing the score when he broke me early in the first set. I’m still not moving well. This is a frustrating time for me but it’s part of my job to play as best that I can.

“But everything seems different when you are not 100 per cent physically, I still need to play matches to try and recover my best form. “Hopefully in the next few weeks I will find my legs.”