Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Crocket Club, London, UK – June 30, 2021 France’s Joe-Wilfred Tsonga in action during his first round match against Sweden’s Mikel Emer Reuters / Paul Childs / Files
Former world number five Joe-Wilfred Tsonga will play his final tournament at next month’s French Open, announcing his decision to withdraw from the Grand Slam at home on Wednesday.
Tsonga, 36, has struggled with injuries in recent years and claimed his second win since February 2019 after missing almost the entire 2020 season due to a back injury and posting a 1-8 record last year.
Tsonga said in a video shared on her social media channels, “My head tells me, ‘But you can play all your life’ and at the same time your body reminds you that you no longer have the ability to outdo yourself.”
Tsonga was runners-up at the 2008 Australian Open and has reached five more Grand Slam semifinals.
Since becoming a professional in 2004, he has won 18 ATP titles, including two Masters 1000 tournaments, and an Olympic silver medal in doubles at the 2012 London Games.
“I hope I stay in shape before and be able to be what I always was in this tournament,” Tsonga added, referring to Roland Garros, which runs from May 22 to June 5.
“The goal is to be myself, to be a Joe-Wilfred Tsonga tennis player আমি I have always set myself high goals to try to do what I can. For me, this would be the last chance. “
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