Veteran tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced that he would be retiring following the 2022 French Open. Given his struggles with injury in recent years, many thought it possible that Tsonga's opening match at Roland Garros in the first round could be his last. That was indeed the case, as the 37-year-old lost in four sets to world no. 8 Casper Ruud, succumbing to a shoulder injury in the final set. After the match, the French Tennis Federation held a special ceremony for Tsonga, with tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray all paying tribute to the French tennis player.
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What a nice touch by the ATP at the French Open. Murray led off the tribute, saying that Tsonga was a “great ambassador” for the sport and will be sorely missed. Djokovic followed, noting that the French tennis player brought a lot of “positive attention” to the sport with his “dynamic game style” and “charisma.”
In an emotional response, Nadal said he was “sad to see Tsonga go” but joked that “everyone is getting old” and it's inevitable for this generation of players. Federer's tribute was the last one and it came in French, with the legendary player congratulating Tsonga on his “fantastic career” while reminiscing about some of the battles they had on the court.
Tsonga, who secured 18 ATP titles while ranking as high as no. 5 in the world, might have had a Grand Slam to his name were it not for Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, as he managed to beat each of the four legends at Slams during his career.
Knowing the great competitor and ambassador of tennis he was, the Big 4 had to pay a special tribute to Tsonga at the French Open.
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