I was emotional on Tuesday watching the brilliant Jo-Wilfried Tsonga play Casper Ruud in what, predictably, turned out to be his departure from the sport. The Frenchman, plagued by constant injuries, failed to break the top-100 last year. And in that last game, however, he showed such courage that he led us to believe his victory was possible. It is not surprising that the local crowd cheered and applauded him relentlessly and that he came to sing the national anthem La Marseillaise to move the tennis player who ended the final point of the match in tears.
And Tsonga showed a style that I think will be completely gone in a few years. That of the player who plays with his heart more than technique and who tends to excite audiences more than today’s complete and perfect athletes. Despite not winning a Grand Slam, Tsonga was a great match winner. He had a very strong serve, a great drive and a backhand that gave him more problems than he wanted. But what I would undoubtedly highlight about him is his powerful physique, the intensity he has always given to his game and, above all, this enormous fighting power that he has shown and which has aroused the enthusiasm of his audience.
My nephew and I used to be with him when we were both kids, in the kids circle; But I remember with a special smile the first training session between the two, which took place back on the professional circuit at Wimbledon in 2008. Back then, Rafael was already showing a passion that prevented him from distinguishing a match from a rehearsal, which led Jo to declare that he would not train with him again. Of course, not only was that not the case, but we developed a close and very friendly relationship with him. Shortly after that day on the pitch, Rafael was easily eliminated by the Frenchman in Australia where he put on a great performance that took him to the Grand Slam final.
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Now, sitting in a comfortable armchair in the beautiful and brand new premises of the Philippe Chatrier Club House, writing these lines, I have just congratulated Jo and wished her well. I also see Fabrice Santoro, a former and highly qualified French Navy player who is still linked to tennis and Roland Garros and who did us the honor of visiting the academy a few weeks ago.
These days I was also happy to see Guillermo Coria and Gastón Gaudio, two Argentine players who coincided with Rafael for a few years and were owners of a game at the highest level. They were admirable, very talented, creative and able to shake the viewer up and out of their chairs. David Ferrer, another of the greats who has forced you not to blink at each of his intense points, also circulates in Paris these days and does commentary work on some games.
I find that with them disappears a style of tennis less precise, less perfect and much less complete than the current one. But perhaps also the ability of these great fighters to move and unite the public through the particular way that each elevates their virtues above their cracks.
The guts of the great tournaments, another of its great attractions, and a reminder of the enormous richness and diversity that has existed in the history of this sport.
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