What we need to do is celebrate every moment we can spend with him

April 10, 2022 c_admin Tennis News Comments Off on What we need to do is celebrate every moment we can spend with him

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday April 10, 2022

Gael Monfils had an idea that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga might be retiring, but when the news became official, he couldn’t help being surprised and emotional.

The longtime friend and compatriot of Tsonga admits that he wishes his buddy would continue to play.

“When he announced it officially, I sent him a text saying, Oh, my God, that’s real now,” Monfils told reporters at Monte-Carlo. “Because of course we were talking a lot about it, but he was always telling me it was a secret, and deep inside I don’t really want him to stop, not now.”

But Monfils understands all the parameters of Tsonga’s decision. He knows what struggles his friend has gone through physically over the last few seasons.

“Of course I can understand all the reasons for this decision, this “unfortunate” decision,” Monfils said. “So what we need to do is celebrate every moment we can spend with him now. Yesterday I practiced with him. Even if my ankle was hurting, I said I need to do that. It’s the last moments that we can have together as players. Of course we are friends for life, but now it’s the last moments as players. It’s tough, because he’s my friend and I am experiencing this as a fan boy. I want to see him play a bit more.

“The last years were tough for him physically. He had problems and wasn’t able to give it all. He didn’t have the results he really wanted. Compared to all the career he had, his latest results are not up to par. So it’s really not easy, but I’m very happy for him. I see he’s very calm and he’s okay with this decision, so I have absolutely no worries about the end of his career.”



Monfils: Tsonga was our role model

Monfils says he remembers always looking up to Tsonga, even as a fresh-faced teenager.

“With other players, we always had Jo as a role model since we were very young,” he said. “He was a locomotive, as we say. He was the older brother, the person we looked up to, even if we only had one year difference.”

Monfils recalls being selected to join Tsonga on the French National team, and says it was always a great honor to spend time on court with him.

“We more or less broke through in our careers together, so we were watching each other, and sometimes when I thought he served one kilometer faster than I do, we had a real battle going on, and I always wanted to do like him.

“He had discipline and a love for the game that was an example for the younger players. So that’s why we saw him as a role model.”

Tsonga is set to face Marin Cilic at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Monday.



Monfils: Not Ready to Retire Yet

Monfils, now 35, says he is still hoping to squeeze his best tennis out of his career, even at his elevated age. He says his wife Elina Svitolina helps him stay young.

“I’m the only one that is in a different position. I’m fresher physically, and my wife is pushing me a lot. My fun is a bit different than their fun. So normally, if everything goes well, I should be the last one to give up.”

Tsonga on Djokovic: Charisma and Positivity

Other players weighed in on Tsonga’s career, including World No.1 Novak Djokovic.

“He has a lot of charisma, a lot of positive energy,” Djokovic said of the Frenchman. “I believe Jo was one of the nicest guys we had in our sport for the past 20 years. He was very important for our sport. It’s sad news. But I believe he knows his body perfectly well, and that’s why he made this decision.

“I wish to him and his family a lot of happiness. I know he has a tennis academy not far from Mr. Mouratoglou’s. I’m sure he will do well once he is retired.”