We don’t like withdrawals, why deny it. Much less when they involve such beloved, charismatic and popular players as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Relax, the Frenchman is still active and, for now, he does not think about hanging the racket, but there are endings that are coming, that are sensed, although no one in the room wants to raise their hand to confirm it. The Le Mans rider last competed at the 2020 Australian Open, where he had to withdraw in the first round due to injury. Two months later, the physical problems have multiplied and the Frenchman still hopes to see the green light to dress short. All this, taking into account that he will turn 36 in April, pushes us towards an imminent outcome.
Put up, put down, Jo was always a profile to consider at heights. In 2012 he exceeded 50 victories in the natural season for the last time, gradually reducing his performance towards a less demanding reality. He was still caressing the 40 wins per calendar, but seeing him in the top ten was no longer a fixed vignette. In 2018 the injuries arose, causing a balance of only five victories in twelve games, confirming that age was already a factor on which their later years could be governed. However, in 2019 he came back in a big way, again signing 44 wins, capturing three titles and parking in the top30 at the end of the course. It was a full-blown resurrection, or perhaps the last great effort.
With the renewed energies, 2020 came and with it the bad news. Defeat in the first round of Doha (against Miomir Kecmanovic) and defeat in the first round of the Australian Open (against Alexei Popyrin). In this second battle, forced to throw in the towel due to injury. Once you are over thirty, the preseason break can become a relief for the body and, at the same time, a trap when it comes to coming back. This happened to Jo-Wilfired, who has had to deal with pubalgia throughout all this time, trying to burn out stages in a rehabilitation that has not yet been completed.
“Despite all the process that I have been developing in recent months, I still do not feel capable of returning to competition at the next Australian Open. After discussing it with my medical team, this date comes a bit early for the deadlines I have set. My goal is to get back on the slopes in the shortest time possible, but I also know that I have to be patient, even knowing that not playing this tournament is a real pain.”, The Frenchman shared on social networks when he had to communicate his absence a few days ago in the first Grand Slam of the course.
Uncertain future and no return date
Adding up all this information leads us to a passage where withdrawal begins to be seen as a possible medium-term end. First of all because we know how hard a pubalgia becomes at such advanced ages. Luckily, Tsonga has already burned all his cartridges as a professional, he has already won all the good ones, he has already raised great titles and he has already shared a decade with the best in the world’s tennis elite. As we say, there is nothing left for you to prove and possibly no goal to risk your fitness for. Happily married and father of a child of almost four years, the family has become the most important thing in his day to day, although that will not make him want to feel like a tennis player again and enjoy his latest tournaments. We will have to be attentive in 2021 to tournaments such as Roland Garros or Paris-Bercy, possible places where that last dance can be marked.
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