Tsonga Critiques Djokovic’s Image and Beliefs: A Frustration of Missed Opportunities

From Tsonga’s point of view, however, this was a mistake: “Perhaps he should have stayed himself the whole time. I think he is himself today.”

Even if Djokovic is sometimes discussed “controversially”, that is why he is “appreciated by many people. Because now he is completely honest.”

“He doesn’t do anything to be appreciated. He does things because he thinks they have to be done that way,” said Tsonga: “We gain a lot when we are ourselves.” An example in this context could be Djokovic’s belief not to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. That’s why the world number one missed the Australian Open and US Open 2022, among others.

Compared to Nadal and Federer, Djokovic also received the image of a fighter from the start, said Tsonga in the podcast.

Tsonga: Djokovic would have been loved for that

But the now 36-year-old wasn’t happy with that: “He wanted to get away from this fighter image that he has because he’s a Serb who experienced difficult things in his childhood. He’s a fighter, he had that from the start I think he would have been loved for that.”

The Frenchman lost his only Grand Slam final against Djokovic at the Australian Open in 2008. For the Serb, at the age of 20, it was the first of 24 major titles to date. Tsonga ended his career last year.

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2023-12-19 11:00:00
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