The 18-year career of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came to end at Roland Garros after losing to Casper Ruud of Norway in the first round of the French Open here on Tuesday. With a vocal Court Philippe Chatrier crowd cheering him on that included close friend Gael Monfils, Tsonga fought valiantly against eighth seed Casper Ruud before the Norwegian prevailed 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-6(0). 
 
The 37-year-old Tsonga soaked in a standing ovation for his storied career that includes 18 ATP Tour titles, a runner-up showing at the 2008 Australian Open and a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 5. 
 
"It`s tough for me and all the players that you`re stopping. You`ve been an inspiration to me and so many of the other players, so thank you for the memories," said Ruud, holding back tears in his on-court interview. "I have so many good memories watching Jo on TV. He`s such a great guy and nice person on and off the court. He`s a good example of what a player should be." 
 
Trailing 0-6 in the fourth-set tie-break, an emotional Tsonga fought back tears as they switched sides, then broke down as he stepped to the line to serve. 
 
Both men embraced at the net after a final Ruud forehand winner ended play after three hours and 49 minutes. The Court Philippe Chatrier crowd rose in unison as an emotional Tsonga waved to them before kneeling down on the court. 
 
With his family and children watching on court along with fellow French players Richard Gasquet, Benoit Paire and Monfils, he then took in a moving on-court ceremony that celebrated his career achievements. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all sent video messages for the ceremony that praised Tsonga as a player and person.

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"He`s one of the most charismatic players to play the game," said Djokovic. "He brought a lot of attention to the sport because of his charismatic game style. It`s a tremendous loss to men`s tennis, [but] he has made his mark on our sport." 
 
Injuries limited Tsonga to just 16 tour-level events since the beginning of 2020, but he was able to draw on ample experience in big matches throughout his career. He stayed with the Norwegian throughout the first set, trading service holds before sprinting to a 6/4 lead in the tie-break. Although Tsonga let slip his first two set points, he brought the crowd to its feet by converting on a third opportunity at 7/6. 
 
The second set also went to a tie-break and it appeared that Tsonga might build a two-set lead after gaining a 2/0 mini-break advantage with a drop shot winner. But as Ruud steadied his baseline game, Tsonga lost control of his and began leaking errors. Ruud took seven of the next nine points and struck a strong serve at 6/4 to level the match. Ruud broke Tsonga at 2-1 in the third set with a crosscourt forehand winner and secured an additional break at 5-2 to take a commanding advantage. 
 
Tsonga was forced to serve to keep his career alive at 4-5 in the fourth set, but bravely managed to hold on the back of aggressive baseline play. Buoyed by a crowd firmly on his side, he played a vintage game at 5-5 and broke Ruud to love. 
 
But while Ruud still looked fresh as the match surpassed three-and-a-half hours, Tsonga`s body began to break down. The pace on the Frenchman`s shots slowed considerably as he dropped serve at 6-5. Tsonga then received a medical timeout for treatment on his right shoulder before the start of the tie-break. 
 
Although there were moments of Tsonga flair in the final points that included an improvised left-handed forehand volley, Ruud swept through the tie-break without dropping a point. The eighth seed will face Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round.

The 18-year career of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came to end at Roland Garros after losing to Casper Ruud of Norway in the first round of the French Open here on Tuesday.

The 18-year career of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came to end at Roland Garros after losing to Casper Ruud of Norway in the first round of the French Open here on Tuesday. With a vocal Court Philippe Chatrier crowd cheering him on that included close friend Gael Monfils, Tsonga fought valiantly against eighth seed Casper Ruud before the Norwegian prevailed 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-6(0). The 37-year-old Tsonga soaked in a standing ovation for his storied career that includes 18 ATP Tour titles, a runner-up showing at the 2008 Australian Open and a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 5. "It`s tough for me and all the players that you`re stopping. You`ve been an inspiration to me and so many of the other players, so thank you for the memories," said Ruud, holding back tears in his on-court interview. "I have so many good memories watching Jo on TV. He`s such a great guy and nice person on and off the court. He`s a good example of what a player should be." Trailing 0-6 in the fourth-set tie-break, an emotional Tsonga fought back tears as they switched sides, then broke down as he stepped to the line to serve. Both men embraced at the net after a final Ruud forehand winner ended play after three hours and 49 minutes. The Court Philippe Chatrier crowd rose in unison as an emotional Tsonga waved to them before kneeling down on the court. With his family and children watching on court along with fellow French players Richard Gasquet, Benoit Paire and Monfils, he then took in a moving on-court ceremony that celebrated his career achievements. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all sent video messages for the ceremony that praised Tsonga as a player and person. ALSO READ | French Open: World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas overcomes Italy's Lorenzo Musetti challenge to advance "He`s one of the most charismatic players to play the game," said Djokovic. "He brought a lot of attention to the sport because of his charismatic game style. It`s a tremendous loss to men`s tennis, [but] he has made his mark on our sport." Injuries limited Tsonga to just 16 tour-level events since the beginning of 2020, but he was able to draw on ample experience in big matches throughout his career. He stayed with the Norwegian throughout the first set, trading service holds before sprinting to a 6/4 lead in the tie-break. Although Tsonga let slip his first two set points, he brought the crowd to its feet by converting on a third opportunity at 7/6. The second set also went to a tie-break and it appeared that Tsonga might build a two-set lead after gaining a 2/0 mini-break advantage with a drop shot winner. But as Ruud steadied his baseline game, Tsonga lost control of his and began leaking errors. Ruud took seven of the next nine points and struck a strong serve at 6/4 to level the match. Ruud broke Tsonga at 2-1 in the third set with a crosscourt forehand winner and secured an additional break at 5-2 to take a commanding advantage. Tsonga was forced to serve to keep his career alive at 4-5 in the fourth set, but bravely managed to hold on the back of aggressive baseline play. Buoyed by a crowd firmly on his side, he played a vintage game at 5-5 and broke Ruud to love. But while Ruud still looked fresh as the match surpassed three-and-a-half hours, Tsonga`s body began to break down. The pace on the Frenchman`s shots slowed considerably as he dropped serve at 6-5. Tsonga then received a medical timeout for treatment on his right shoulder before the start of the tie-break. Although there were moments of Tsonga flair in the final points that included an improvised left-handed forehand volley, Ruud swept through the tie-break without dropping a point. The eighth seed will face Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round.

French Open: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bids tearful farewell to 18-year-long career after first-round exit

Former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced on Wednesday that he will retire after this year's edition of the French Open.

It will be the 15th time that the Frenchman will compete at the clay-court Grand Slam as a professional.

"It is with great emotion that I announce today my decision to stop my professional career at the next French Open. So many incredible moments, so much joy shared with a public that gave me a lot," Tsonga wrote on social media.

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"Hoping for one last thrill with you!"Tsonga, who played doubles on the Parisian clay in 2002 and 2003 before making his singles debut in 2005, is a two-time singles semi-finalist at the tournament.

"I hope that I will stay in shape before and be able to be who I have always been at this tournament," Tsonga said in a YouTube video.

"I have always set myself high goals to try to get what I can. For me, this will be the opportunity to do it one last time."

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The Frenchman is a two-time ATP Masters 1000 champion (2008 Paris, 2014 Canada), three-time ATP Finals competitor (2008, 2011-12), and he also reached a major final at the 2008 Australian Open.

The 36-year-old has the second-highest winning percentage in tour-level matches on record among Frenchmen (66.5%), only trailing Yannick Noah (69.6%).

Tsonga is an 18-time tour-level titlist who has won 467 matches.

Former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced on Wednesday that he will retire after this year's edition of the French Open. It will be the 15th time that the Frenchman will compete at the clay-court Grand Slam as a professional.

Former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced on Wednesday that he will retire after this year's edition of the French Open. It will be the 15th time that the Frenchman will compete at the clay-court Grand Slam as a professional. "It is with great emotion that I announce today my decision to stop my professional career at the next French Open. So many incredible moments, so much joy shared with a public that gave me a lot," Tsonga wrote on social media. ALSO READ: Olympic great Lindsey Vonn to host Laureus Awards Show 2022 in Seville "Hoping for one last thrill with you!"Tsonga, who played doubles on the Parisian clay in 2002 and 2003 before making his singles debut in 2005, is a two-time singles semi-finalist at the tournament. "I hope that I will stay in shape before and be able to be who I have always been at this tournament," Tsonga said in a YouTube video. "I have always set myself high goals to try to get what I can. For me, this will be the opportunity to do it one last time." ALSO READ: Tiger Woods put finishing touches to his preparations ahead of this week's Masters The Frenchman is a two-time ATP Masters 1000 champion (2008 Paris, 2014 Canada), three-time ATP Finals competitor (2008, 2011-12), and he also reached a major final at the 2008 Australian Open. The 36-year-old has the second-highest winning percentage in tour-level matches on record among Frenchmen (66.5%), only trailing Yannick Noah (69.6%). Tsonga is an 18-time tour-level titlist who has won 467 matches.

Former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to retire after French Open 2022

After Rafa Nadal won a thrilling four-set encounter with <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-nick-kyrgios-admits-deliberately-hitting-ball-at-rafael-nadal-233181&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi4va_bzJ_jAhXFuY8KHc1vB2gQFjADegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1nAolcIxGE4iVBp1vad-84">Nick Kyrgios</a>, the Spaniard repeated his lament that he had got a tough draw at the All England Club, ahead of his third-round clash against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday.

Although Nadal is ranked second in the world, his absence from numerous grasscourt tournaments ultimately gave him the third seeding at Wimbledon, prompting him to complain before the tournament got underway.

"It's true that I have been (handed) a tough draw, a tough opponent for a second round," Nadal said after his victory over Kyrgios. "You want to face less in a second-round like this, especially here.

"Now I have another tough opponent in Tsonga. Every match is tough, my draw is (a) tough one," <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/rafael-nadal-says-wimbledons-seedings-system-not-a-good-thing-230352&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi4va_bzJ_jAhXFuY8KHc1vB2gQFjAAegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2HPzidhwrP5f7RPWx9xoPz">Nadal </a>said.

While Nadal had to dig deep against Kyrgios, Tsonga has yet to drop a set.

The 34-year-old said he had been shown a lack of respect after his first-round opponent Bernard Tomic was fined for playing below standards in a match that lasted only 58 minutes - the shortest Wimbledon men's match for 15 years.

"In the third set he played and it was tight," Tsonga said. "And I played well to win this set. So I don't know."

Tsonga's frustration at his victory being questioned stems from his own struggles to claw his way back up the rankings after falling out of the top 100.

He played only 12 matches in 2018, missing three Grand Slams with a knee injury, which led to his singles ranking plummeting from 15 to 262.

A title win in Montpellier in February helped him to recover some measure of consistency and move up to 72nd, 70 places below Nadal.

Tsonga has an uncanny ability to get results against top players and he has beaten the Spaniard four times in his career, winning their last meeting in 2015.

The pair will have to wait for their Centre Court match-up though after women's top seed Ash Barty plays British wildcard, Harriet Dart.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-roger-federer-crushes-jay-clarke-eases-into-third-round-233168&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjJjOvxzJ_jAhXKso8KHQNkD3IQFjAEegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2r0bzXcSl5Euj3LbovNbb4">Roger Federer</a> is also in action on Centre Court later on Saturday when he takes on Frenchman Lucas Pouille.

American Serena Williams plays Germany's Julia Goerges on Court One while Czech sixth seed Petra Kvitova takes on Poland's Magda Linette on Court Two.

After Rafa Nadal won a thrilling four-set encounter with Nick Kyrgios, the Spaniard repeated his lament that he had got a tough draw at the All England Club, ahead of his third-round clash against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday.

After Rafa Nadal won a thrilling four-set encounter with Nick Kyrgios, the Spaniard repeated his lament that he had got a tough draw at the All England Club, ahead of his third-round clash against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday. Although Nadal is ranked second in the world, his absence from numerous grasscourt tournaments ultimately gave him the third seeding at Wimbledon, prompting him to complain before the tournament got underway. "It's true that I have been (handed) a tough draw, a tough opponent for a second round," Nadal said after his victory over Kyrgios. "You want to face less in a second-round like this, especially here. "Now I have another tough opponent in Tsonga. Every match is tough, my draw is (a) tough one," Nadal said. While Nadal had to dig deep against Kyrgios, Tsonga has yet to drop a set. The 34-year-old said he had been shown a lack of respect after his first-round opponent Bernard Tomic was fined for playing below standards in a match that lasted only 58 minutes - the shortest Wimbledon men's match for 15 years. "In the third set he played and it was tight," Tsonga said. "And I played well to win this set. So I don't know." Tsonga's frustration at his victory being questioned stems from his own struggles to claw his way back up the rankings after falling out of the top 100. He played only 12 matches in 2018, missing three Grand Slams with a knee injury, which led to his singles ranking plummeting from 15 to 262. A title win in Montpellier in February helped him to recover some measure of consistency and move up to 72nd, 70 places below Nadal. Tsonga has an uncanny ability to get results against top players and he has beaten the Spaniard four times in his career, winning their last meeting in 2015. The pair will have to wait for their Centre Court match-up though after women's top seed Ash Barty plays British wildcard, Harriet Dart. Roger Federer is also in action on Centre Court later on Saturday when he takes on Frenchman Lucas Pouille. American Serena Williams plays Germany's Julia Goerges on Court One while Czech sixth seed Petra Kvitova takes on Poland's Magda Linette on Court Two.

Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal to battle tough Tsonga in third round

Australia's <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/tomic-denies-hewitt-allegations-calls-him-liar-report-191204&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjFpYy5iJvjAhXNknAKHUD6Dd8QFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2TUPWKj0X-tgcOrpxq84iT">Bernard Tomic</a> was fined 45,000 pounds ($57,000) for not playing to "required professional standards" after he put in minimal effort during a 58-minute, first-round thrashing by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon, organisers said on Thursday.

Fans looked bemused as the 26-year-old world number 96 lost Tuesday's match 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, a performance described as "appalling" and "embarrassing" on social media.

"It is the opinion of the referee that the performance of Bernard Tomic in his first-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did not meet the required professional standards, and therefore he has been fined the maximum amount of 45,000 pounds which will be deducted from prize money," organisers said in a statement.

With first-round losers at Wimbledon receiving 45,000 pounds, Tomic exited the tournament empty-handed following his latest run-in with the All England Club's authorities.

The Australian was fined $15,000 in 2017 after admitting <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-i-was-bored-tomic-says-after-losing-first-round-match-in-only-84-minutes-17605&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjFpYy5iJvjAhXNknAKHUD6Dd8QFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw26LcRryZpMkCdlIisGYKOa">faking an injury</a> during a first-round loss to Mischa Zverev, saying later he was "bored" with Wimbledon.

When asked to sum up his performance on Tuesday, Tomic said: "I played pretty bad." Asked to elaborate, he said: "I just played terrible."

It is not the first time Tomic has been in trouble for not trying.

He was nicknamed "Tomic the Tank Engine" after accusations he "tanked" - or failed to try his best - in a loss to Andy Roddick at the 2012 US&nbsp;Open.

The Australian also broke the record for the quickest loss at a Masters-level tournament on the ATP Tour after being crushed 6-0, 6-1 in 28 minutes by Finn Jarkko Nieminen in Miami in 2014.

Tomic also faced match point holding his racket backwards in a defeat by Fabio Fognini at the 2016 Madrid Open.

Tomic, trailing 0-40 as Italian Fognini tried to serve out the match at 6-2, 5-4, held his racket by the head with the handle pointing forwards and barely moved as his opponent fired an ace past him to seal the victory.

Tomic, who was once hailed as being among the game's brightest emerging talents, has now lost in the first round of his last three Grand Slams, exiting the French Open in May with a straight-sets defeat in a match lasting 82 minutes.

Australia's Bernard Tomic was fined 45,000 pounds ($57,000) for not playing to "required professional standards" after he put in minimal effort during a 58-minute, first-round thrashing by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon, organisers said on Thursday.

Australia's Bernard Tomic was fined 45,000 pounds ($57,000) for not playing to "required professional standards" after he put in minimal effort during a 58-minute, first-round thrashing by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon, organisers said on Thursday. Fans looked bemused as the 26-year-old world number 96 lost Tuesday's match 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, a performance described as "appalling" and "embarrassing" on social media. "It is the opinion of the referee that the performance of Bernard Tomic in his first-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did not meet the required professional standards, and therefore he has been fined the maximum amount of 45,000 pounds which will be deducted from prize money," organisers said in a statement. With first-round losers at Wimbledon receiving 45,000 pounds, Tomic exited the tournament empty-handed following his latest run-in with the All England Club's authorities. The Australian was fined $15,000 in 2017 after admitting faking an injury during a first-round loss to Mischa Zverev, saying later he was "bored" with Wimbledon. When asked to sum up his performance on Tuesday, Tomic said: "I played pretty bad." Asked to elaborate, he said: "I just played terrible." It is not the first time Tomic has been in trouble for not trying. He was nicknamed "Tomic the Tank Engine" after accusations he "tanked" - or failed to try his best - in a loss to Andy Roddick at the 2012 US Open. The Australian also broke the record for the quickest loss at a Masters-level tournament on the ATP Tour after being crushed 6-0, 6-1 in 28 minutes by Finn Jarkko Nieminen in Miami in 2014. Tomic also faced match point holding his racket backwards in a defeat by Fabio Fognini at the 2016 Madrid Open. Tomic, trailing 0-40 as Italian Fognini tried to serve out the match at 6-2, 5-4, held his racket by the head with the handle pointing forwards and barely moved as his opponent fired an ace past him to seal the victory. Tomic, who was once hailed as being among the game's brightest emerging talents, has now lost in the first round of his last three Grand Slams, exiting the French Open in May with a straight-sets defeat in a match lasting 82 minutes.

Wimbledon: Bernard Tomic fined for playing below standards

Roger Federer was made to work hard by <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/halle-open-nothing-to-lose-says-jo-wilfried-tsonga-ahead-of-roger-federer-clash-228891&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjokM299fniAhWD7GEKHU_EAOEQFjACegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0k5StyJlQHGNByiXCXauFw">Jo-Wilfried Tsonga</a> at the Halle Open on Thursday before he sealed a 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 victory in the second round to continue his charge towards a 10th title at the grasscourt tournament.

The 20-times Grand Slam winner, who is using the tournament to prepare for next month's <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/halle-open-roger-federer-begins-grasscourt-season-with-win-over-john-millman-228558&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjokM299fniAhWD7GEKHU_EAOEQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw14QoR62UxCyzgiEmtJZhqV">Wimbledon </a>championships, converted two out of four break points to come through a tight match in two hours and 16 minutes.

The 37-year-old Swiss, who has reached the Halle quarter-finals for a 17th time, next meets Roberto Bautista Agut who defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-4.

Germany's Alexander Zverev, the runner-up in 2016 and 2017, stayed in the hunt for a first Halle title with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Steve Johnson to set up a quarter-final against the unseeded David Goffin.

"I'm definitely happy with how things went," <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/halle-open-alexander-zverev-cruises-into-second-round-gael-monfils-ousted-228212&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjokM299fniAhWD7GEKHU_EAOEQFjAAegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1oh95QoFBjhf1AtNyxTjFa">Zverev</a>, who withdrew from the doubles competition on Tuesday due to a knee problem, said.

"Obviously my knee is still swollen but the pain is much less than it was a few days ago. I hope when the swelling goes out it will be much better,"&nbsp;Zverev said.

Belgium's Goffin, the 2017 ATP finals runner-up who has slipped to number 33 in the world, has lost his two meetings with second seed Zverev but both matches were played on clay.

Matteo Berrettini, who rallied past Italian compatriot Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, is seeking his third ATP title and second on grass following his success in Stuttgart last week.

Up next for Berrettini is Russian Karen Khachanov who has failed to defeat the big-hitting world number 22 in two previous attempts, including in the second round at Stuttgart.

Roger Federer was made to work hard by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Halle Open on Thursday before he sealed a 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 victory in the second round to continue his charge towards a 10th title at the grasscourt tournament.

Roger Federer was made to work hard by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Halle Open on Thursday before he sealed a 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 victory in the second round to continue his charge towards a 10th title at the grasscourt tournament. The 20-times Grand Slam winner, who is using the tournament to prepare for next month's Wimbledon championships, converted two out of four break points to come through a tight match in two hours and 16 minutes. The 37-year-old Swiss, who has reached the Halle quarter-finals for a 17th time, next meets Roberto Bautista Agut who defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-4. Germany's Alexander Zverev, the runner-up in 2016 and 2017, stayed in the hunt for a first Halle title with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Steve Johnson to set up a quarter-final against the unseeded David Goffin. "I'm definitely happy with how things went," Zverev, who withdrew from the doubles competition on Tuesday due to a knee problem, said. "Obviously my knee is still swollen but the pain is much less than it was a few days ago. I hope when the swelling goes out it will be much better," Zverev said. Belgium's Goffin, the 2017 ATP finals runner-up who has slipped to number 33 in the world, has lost his two meetings with second seed Zverev but both matches were played on clay. Matteo Berrettini, who rallied past Italian compatriot Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, is seeking his third ATP title and second on grass following his success in Stuttgart last week. Up next for Berrettini is Russian Karen Khachanov who has failed to defeat the big-hitting world number 22 in two previous attempts, including in the second round at Stuttgart.

Halle Open: Roger Federer comes through tricky Jo-Wilfried Tsonga test to reach quarters

French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga believes he has nothing to lose against Roger Federer as he continues along the comeback trail in the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle this Thursday.

Tsonga, 34, missed seven months of last season due to knee surgery but has shown solid form this month upon his return to grass court tennis for the first time since 2017.

After reaching the second round in Stuttgart last week, the Frenchman beat compatriot Benoit Paire in straight sets in Halle on Tuesday to set up a second round fixture with Federer on Thursday.

"It is always special to play <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/halle-open-roger-federer-begins-grasscourt-season-with-win-over-john-millman-228558&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjR2fnKt_fiAhVOAogKHWG2AD0QFjAFegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lnul5eNkR18zTFDZI1CqI">Federer</a>, I will give everything I've got," Tsonga told AFP.

"There is less pressure than usual, because there is no shame in losing to Roger Federer. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain,"&nbsp;Tsonga said.&nbsp;

The Frenchman is one of the few players who can boast of a perfect record on grass against eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer.

The two have met only once on the surface, a gruelling battle at Wimbledon in 2011, which Tsonga won after clawing back a two-set deficit.

"It's true I have never lost to him on grass, but that is only because we have only played once," said Tsonga.

"If we had played ten times, the roles would probably be reversed.It is a different situation now. I want to do well, but I am coming back from a long way away,"&nbsp;Tsonga added.

Once ranked number five in the world, Tsonga now sits at 77th in the ATP rankings, having slipped as low as 210th after his injury.

Tsonga told AFP he was happy with his return to the tour this season, but that he still felt the effects of his spell on the sidelines.

"I am still paying for it a bit after a whole year of not playing. It's as if I actually retired last year," he said.

"But I am happy, there have been no catastrophes. Physically, I am getting better and better each week," said&nbsp;Tsonga.&nbsp;

Speaking after his own first-round victory against John Millman, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-rafael-nadal-beats-roger-federer-to-reach-12th-final-225296&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiV8s38t_fiAhVK_GEKHdrEAXYQFjACegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qXyVuD2QzBiCea2SZ2DWw">Federer </a>said he was happy to see Tsonga back on the court.

"We trained together in Miami a few weeks ago, and we get on well," said the world number three.

"Jo-Wilfried has shown in the past that he can beat me. Whether on hard court, clay or grass, he is always dangerous. It's a tough draw for the second round,"&nbsp;Federer said.

French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga believes he has nothing to lose against Roger Federer as he continues along the comeback trail in the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle this Thursday.

French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga believes he has nothing to lose against Roger Federer as he continues along the comeback trail in the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle this Thursday. Tsonga, 34, missed seven months of last season due to knee surgery but has shown solid form this month upon his return to grass court tennis for the first time since 2017. After reaching the second round in Stuttgart last week, the Frenchman beat compatriot Benoit Paire in straight sets in Halle on Tuesday to set up a second round fixture with Federer on Thursday. "It is always special to play Federer, I will give everything I've got," Tsonga told AFP. "There is less pressure than usual, because there is no shame in losing to Roger Federer. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain," Tsonga said. The Frenchman is one of the few players who can boast of a perfect record on grass against eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer. The two have met only once on the surface, a gruelling battle at Wimbledon in 2011, which Tsonga won after clawing back a two-set deficit. "It's true I have never lost to him on grass, but that is only because we have only played once," said Tsonga. "If we had played ten times, the roles would probably be reversed.It is a different situation now. I want to do well, but I am coming back from a long way away," Tsonga added. Once ranked number five in the world, Tsonga now sits at 77th in the ATP rankings, having slipped as low as 210th after his injury. Tsonga told AFP he was happy with his return to the tour this season, but that he still felt the effects of his spell on the sidelines. "I am still paying for it a bit after a whole year of not playing. It's as if I actually retired last year," he said. "But I am happy, there have been no catastrophes. Physically, I am getting better and better each week," said Tsonga. Speaking after his own first-round victory against John Millman, Federer said he was happy to see Tsonga back on the court. "We trained together in Miami a few weeks ago, and we get on well," said the world number three. "Jo-Wilfried has shown in the past that he can beat me. Whether on hard court, clay or grass, he is always dangerous. It's a tough draw for the second round," Federer said.

Halle Open: 'Nothing to lose,' says Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ahead of Roger Federer clash

Eleven years after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the 2008 Australian Open title, top seed Novak Djokovic bested the Frenchman again at Melbourne Park to reach the third round early on Friday.

The world number one Serb claimed a clinical 6-3 7-5 6-4 win over wildcard Tsonga at Rod Laver Arena, a match that finished after midnight and failed to live up to the players' intriguing rivalry at the year's first Grand Slam.

A 20-year-old Djokovic edged a fourth-set tiebreak to claim his maiden Grand Slam crown in 2008 against then 22-year-old Tsonga.

Two years later, the Frenchman turned the tables in a five-set classic in the 2010 quarter-finals, crushing Djokovic's hopes of a second Melbourne trophy.

The players have had a different trajectory since the swashbuckling days of their early twenties but the gap has grown much wider in the past year.

While 31-year-old Djokovic is seeking a third successive Grand Slam title and a record seventh Australian Open crown, Tsonga's ranking has slipped to 177th after his 2018 season was cut short by knee surgery in April.

The gap was on full show as Djokovic cruised to victory in just over two hours, setting up a mouth-watering inter-generational clash with Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov.

Yet there was still enough of the old magic on show from the burly Tsonga, whose 33-year-old legs scrambled hard to set up the shot of the night, a stunning forehand winner down the line from around the net.

Djokovic said he was a "a bit more nervy" than usual playing against Tsonga, even if plenty of seats were vacant at centre court, with the late hour caused by a scheduling logjam.

"Playing on the centre stage against Jo, who I consider one of the greatest rivals that I had throughout my life, my career," said Djokovic.

"Because of his injuries, he dropped his ranking, but the ranking is definitely not showing the right picture of his quality.

"I'm glad to see him playing. I hope that he can get back where he deserves: at the top of the tennis game."

Shapovalov is only 19 but very highly regarded. The Canadian said he would be studying up on fellow left-hander Rafa Nadal's game in a bid to compete with the Serbian 14-times Grand Slam champion.

"Good," shrugged Djokovic. "Everyone has access to YouTube. Doesn't worry me at all... Nadal and him, yes, I mean, the only thing they're sharing I think is the left hand.

"I don't think they share many similarities in their game. I think it's quite different."

Eleven years after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the 2008 Australian Open title, top seed Novak Djokovic bested the Frenchman again at Melbourne Park to reach the third round early on Friday.

Eleven years after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the 2008 Australian Open title, top seed Novak Djokovic bested the Frenchman again at Melbourne Park to reach the third round early on Friday. The world number one Serb claimed a clinical 6-3 7-5 6-4 win over wildcard Tsonga at Rod Laver Arena, a match that finished after midnight and failed to live up to the players' intriguing rivalry at the year's first Grand Slam. A 20-year-old Djokovic edged a fourth-set tiebreak to claim his maiden Grand Slam crown in 2008 against then 22-year-old Tsonga. Two years later, the Frenchman turned the tables in a five-set classic in the 2010 quarter-finals, crushing Djokovic's hopes of a second Melbourne trophy. The players have had a different trajectory since the swashbuckling days of their early twenties but the gap has grown much wider in the past year. While 31-year-old Djokovic is seeking a third successive Grand Slam title and a record seventh Australian Open crown, Tsonga's ranking has slipped to 177th after his 2018 season was cut short by knee surgery in April. The gap was on full show as Djokovic cruised to victory in just over two hours, setting up a mouth-watering inter-generational clash with Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov. Yet there was still enough of the old magic on show from the burly Tsonga, whose 33-year-old legs scrambled hard to set up the shot of the night, a stunning forehand winner down the line from around the net. Djokovic said he was a "a bit more nervy" than usual playing against Tsonga, even if plenty of seats were vacant at centre court, with the late hour caused by a scheduling logjam. "Playing on the centre stage against Jo, who I consider one of the greatest rivals that I had throughout my life, my career," said Djokovic. "Because of his injuries, he dropped his ranking, but the ranking is definitely not showing the right picture of his quality. "I'm glad to see him playing. I hope that he can get back where he deserves: at the top of the tennis game." Shapovalov is only 19 but very highly regarded. The Canadian said he would be studying up on fellow left-hander Rafa Nadal's game in a bid to compete with the Serbian 14-times Grand Slam champion. "Good," shrugged Djokovic. "Everyone has access to YouTube. Doesn't worry me at all... Nadal and him, yes, I mean, the only thing they're sharing I think is the left hand. "I don't think they share many similarities in their game. I think it's quite different."

Australian Open: Djokovic dominates Tsonga re-match to reach third round

Japanese star Kei Nishikori was in superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International on Saturday.

The 29-year-old gave his French opponent no chance as he put on a commanding all court display to advance to the final for the second time in three years.

After his impressive straight sets quarter-final win over Grigor Dimitrov, Nishikori said he had set his sights on returning to the world's top five after falling to 39 last April due to a wrist injury at the end of 2017 that required time away from the tour.

And he showed all the qualities of a top five player in his 66-minute demolition at the Pat Rafter Arena.

He only served two aces compared with the 11 sent down by Chardy, but Nishikori returned superbly and pressured the Frenchman's serve throughout, breaking him twice in each set.

Nishikori also moved around the court well, his speed not noticeably affected by the injuries that hampered him last year.

"Everything was working well today," Nishikori said.

"I felt like I was too fast on the court today -- I felt very good.

"Physically and tennis-wise I think it was perfect. I served well, I returned well -- I think that was the key today -- and I was moving well, that was fantastic."

Nishikori was runner-up to Dimitrov in 2017 and will go into Sunday's final against either fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as firm favourite.

Japanese star Kei Nishikori was in superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International on Saturday. The 29-year-old gave his French opponent no chance as he put on a commanding all court display to advance to the final for the second time in three years.

Japanese star Kei Nishikori was in superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International on Saturday. The 29-year-old gave his French opponent no chance as he put on a commanding all court display to advance to the final for the second time in three years. After his impressive straight sets quarter-final win over Grigor Dimitrov, Nishikori said he had set his sights on returning to the world's top five after falling to 39 last April due to a wrist injury at the end of 2017 that required time away from the tour. And he showed all the qualities of a top five player in his 66-minute demolition at the Pat Rafter Arena. He only served two aces compared with the 11 sent down by Chardy, but Nishikori returned superbly and pressured the Frenchman's serve throughout, breaking him twice in each set. Nishikori also moved around the court well, his speed not noticeably affected by the injuries that hampered him last year. "Everything was working well today," Nishikori said. "I felt like I was too fast on the court today -- I felt very good. "Physically and tennis-wise I think it was perfect. I served well, I returned well -- I think that was the key today -- and I was moving well, that was fantastic." Nishikori was runner-up to Dimitrov in 2017 and will go into Sunday's final against either fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as firm favourite.

Kei Nishikori powers through to Brisbane final

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d&nbsp;Denis Shapovalov,&nbsp;3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5

Former winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought back to vanquish rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The 15th seed looked dead and buried trailing 2-5 in the final set before 18-year-old Shapovalov faltered and the experienced Frenchman seized the initiative.

Tsonga stormed into the third round after a 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win in 3hr 37min on Margaret Court Arena and will face either Australian 17th seed Nick Kyrgios or Serbia&#39;s Viktor Troicki in the third round.

It ended his three-match losing run in five-setters and reversed his loss to Shapovalov in straight sets in the second round at last year&#39;s US Open.

&quot;I&#39;m tired, but really happy,&quot; Tsonga said. &quot;I did a big fight today.

&quot;It&#39;s not easy against these young guns, they go for everything, but I just continued to fight.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/tsonga7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tsonga7</a> is CLUTCH ???? 
 
The Frenchman wins five straight games in the fifth to d <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shapovalov?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shapovalov</a> 3-6 6-3 1-6 7-6(4) 7-5. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/tv71nleAyV">pic.twitter.com/tv71nleAyV</a>
&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/953502594193702913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

It extended Tsonga&#39;s record at the Australian Open to 36-10 after he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008 final.

Shapovalov quickly jumped out of the blocks, breaking misfiring Tsonga in the fourth game on the way to taking the opening set in 34 minutes.

Tsonga picked up his game and levelled one set all with a service break in the sixth game.

But the Canadian teen hit back, taking the third set with some sensational shot-making, including a running backhand winner on break point and then breaking again in the sixth game.

Tsonga stayed alive and took the match into a fifth set decider in a resolute tiebreaker.

Shapovalov began the final set strongly, breaking Tsonga in the second game and then holding off break points in the following game.

But Tsonga would not yield and broke Shapovalov as he attempted to serve out the match, breaking with a crosscourt backhand.

Shapovalov began to falter as Tsonga stepped up the pressure and broke the young Canadian again in the 11th game to hit the front 6-5. He didn&#39;t need a second chance as he served out strongly for the match.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Tsonga will face either Australian 17th seed Nick Kyrgios or Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the third round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d Denis Shapovalov, 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 Former winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought back to vanquish rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open on Wednesday. The 15th seed looked dead and buried trailing 2-5 in the final set before 18-year-old Shapovalov faltered and the experienced Frenchman seized the initiative. Tsonga stormed into the third round after a 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win in 3hr 37min on Margaret Court Arena and will face either Australian 17th seed Nick Kyrgios or Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the third round. It ended his three-match losing run in five-setters and reversed his loss to Shapovalov in straight sets in the second round at last year's US Open. "I'm tired, but really happy," Tsonga said. "I did a big fight today. "It's not easy against these young guns, they go for everything, but I just continued to fight." .@tsonga7 is CLUTCH ???? The Frenchman wins five straight games in the fifth to d #Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 1-6 7-6(4) 7-5. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/tv71nleAyV — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2018 × It extended Tsonga's record at the Australian Open to 36-10 after he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008 final. Shapovalov quickly jumped out of the blocks, breaking misfiring Tsonga in the fourth game on the way to taking the opening set in 34 minutes. Tsonga picked up his game and levelled one set all with a service break in the sixth game. But the Canadian teen hit back, taking the third set with some sensational shot-making, including a running backhand winner on break point and then breaking again in the sixth game. Tsonga stayed alive and took the match into a fifth set decider in a resolute tiebreaker. Shapovalov began the final set strongly, breaking Tsonga in the second game and then holding off break points in the following game. But Tsonga would not yield and broke Shapovalov as he attempted to serve out the match, breaking with a crosscourt backhand. Shapovalov began to falter as Tsonga stepped up the pressure and broke the young Canadian again in the 11th game to hit the front 6-5. He didn't need a second chance as he served out strongly for the match.

Australian Open: Tsonga races to third round, outplays Denis Shapovalov

Second seed Andy Murray survived a ferocious Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fightback to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the seventh time, winning Wednesday&#39;s second Centre Court blockbuster by 7-6(10) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1. 
 
After Roger Federer&#39;s miraculous earlier escape act against Marin Cilic, when he recovered from two sets down to win,12th seeded Frenchman Tsonga threatened something equally improbable as dusk settled at the All England Club. 
 
When the maverick Frenchman blazed away, firing winners from here, there and everywhere, to take the third and fourth sets Murray was wobbling. The crowd could barely believe their eyes. 
 
But just when the match appeared to be spiralling out of control for the agitated Scot, the 2013 champion rediscovered his early authority to dominate the decider and set up a semi-final with Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych. 
 
&quot;It was a tough match. At the end of the fourth set it was really tough,&quot; Murray, who had not dropped a set to reach the quarter-finals, said in a courtside interview. 
 
&quot;To lose that set 6-4 was hard but I tried to use all my energy at the start of the fifth to get myself pumped up, and the crowd, and thankfully got the break and managed to hang on.&quot; 
 
After the memorable Federer exploits there was a danger that Murray&#39;s match against Tsonga might prove a mere footnote. 
 
Those fears vanished in a high-quality opening set in which Murray was dragged into an epic 22-point tiebreak despite forging ahead with an early break of serve. 
 
Tsonga had lost both of his previous Wimbledon clashes with Murray and was on an eight-set losing streak against the Scot, but he showed no inferiority complex. 
 
He ended a scintillating 20-stroke rally with a volley to move 6-4 ahead in the breaker, but Murray replied with an ace and devilish service return to set up a routine pass. 
 
Tsonga spurned a third set point when skewing a backhand wide off a Murray second serve. 
 
Magic Moment 
 
He was made to pay as Murray produced a moment of magic to run down a drop shot and punch a backhand pass which the diving Tsonga netted at 10-10, the Scot roaring to the crowd and pumping his fist in defiance. 
 
The second seed then claimed the opening set with a volley into an open court on his fourth set point. 
 
Rock solid Murray was buoyant and the spirit ebbed away from Tsonga in a one-sided second set. 
 
But the 31-year-old Frenchman roared back with some audacious attacking tennis and Briton Murray, for the first time in a tournament that had been stress-free before, looked flummoxed. 
 
Murray, hot favourite after champion Novak Djokovic&#39;s third-round demise, lost concentration in the third set and Tsonga capitalised to extend the contest. 
 
Murray led 4-2 in the fourth before Tsonga, winners flowing from his racket, reeled off four games in a row to send the match into a decider. 
 
Tsonga had a break point at the start of the fifth as Murray shovelled a forehand into the net, but he slipped mid-rally and Murray snuffed out the danger. 
 
The Briton broke in the next game and never looked back as he racked up his 100th Tour level match on grass - second only amongst active players to seven-times champion Federer who could await in Sunday&#39;s final. 
 
(Reuters)

Andy Murray reached his seventh Wimbeldon semi-final and will play against Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych

Second seed Andy Murray survived a ferocious Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fightback to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the seventh time, winning Wednesday's second Centre Court blockbuster by 7-6(10) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1. After Roger Federer's miraculous earlier escape act against Marin Cilic, when he recovered from two sets down to win,12th seeded Frenchman Tsonga threatened something equally improbable as dusk settled at the All England Club. When the maverick Frenchman blazed away, firing winners from here, there and everywhere, to take the third and fourth sets Murray was wobbling. The crowd could barely believe their eyes. But just when the match appeared to be spiralling out of control for the agitated Scot, the 2013 champion rediscovered his early authority to dominate the decider and set up a semi-final with Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych. "It was a tough match. At the end of the fourth set it was really tough," Murray, who had not dropped a set to reach the quarter-finals, said in a courtside interview. "To lose that set 6-4 was hard but I tried to use all my energy at the start of the fifth to get myself pumped up, and the crowd, and thankfully got the break and managed to hang on." After the memorable Federer exploits there was a danger that Murray's match against Tsonga might prove a mere footnote. Those fears vanished in a high-quality opening set in which Murray was dragged into an epic 22-point tiebreak despite forging ahead with an early break of serve. Tsonga had lost both of his previous Wimbledon clashes with Murray and was on an eight-set losing streak against the Scot, but he showed no inferiority complex. He ended a scintillating 20-stroke rally with a volley to move 6-4 ahead in the breaker, but Murray replied with an ace and devilish service return to set up a routine pass. Tsonga spurned a third set point when skewing a backhand wide off a Murray second serve. Magic Moment He was made to pay as Murray produced a moment of magic to run down a drop shot and punch a backhand pass which the diving Tsonga netted at 10-10, the Scot roaring to the crowd and pumping his fist in defiance. The second seed then claimed the opening set with a volley into an open court on his fourth set point. Rock solid Murray was buoyant and the spirit ebbed away from Tsonga in a one-sided second set. But the 31-year-old Frenchman roared back with some audacious attacking tennis and Briton Murray, for the first time in a tournament that had been stress-free before, looked flummoxed. Murray, hot favourite after champion Novak Djokovic's third-round demise, lost concentration in the third set and Tsonga capitalised to extend the contest. Murray led 4-2 in the fourth before Tsonga, winners flowing from his racket, reeled off four games in a row to send the match into a decider. Tsonga had a break point at the start of the fifth as Murray shovelled a forehand into the net, but he slipped mid-rally and Murray snuffed out the danger. The Briton broke in the next game and never looked back as he racked up his 100th Tour level match on grass - second only amongst active players to seven-times champion Federer who could await in Sunday's final. (Reuters)

Murray survives Tsonga comeback to reach semis

Seventh seed Richard Gasquet moved stealthily into the Wimbledon fourth round for the seventh time in his career today, finishing off Spain&#39;s Albert Ramos 2-6 7-6(5) 6-2 6-3. 
 
The French stylist required only 31 minutes to seal victory on Court 18, having moved two sets to one ahead the previous evening against the world number 36. 
 
Gasquet, who reached the semi-finals last year as he did in 2007, could face compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last 16 if he beats American John Isner. 
 
His win was his 28th at Wimbledon, taking him to equal fifth on the all-time list for Frenchmen, level with Rene Lacoste. 
 
(Reuters)

Gasquet, who reached the semi-finals last year, could face his French compatriot Tsonga if he beats American John Isner

Seventh seed Richard Gasquet moved stealthily into the Wimbledon fourth round for the seventh time in his career today, finishing off Spain's Albert Ramos 2-6 7-6(5) 6-2 6-3. The French stylist required only 31 minutes to seal victory on Court 18, having moved two sets to one ahead the previous evening against the world number 36. Gasquet, who reached the semi-finals last year as he did in 2007, could face compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last 16 if he beats American John Isner. His win was his 28th at Wimbledon, taking him to equal fifth on the all-time list for Frenchmen, level with Rene Lacoste. (Reuters)

Richard Gasquet eases into last 16 at Wimbledon