An exit with honors, but also in suffering and in tears. Eighteen years after the start of his professional career, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lost his last match on the circuit against Casper Ruud in the first round of Roland-Garros (6-7 [6-8]7-6 [7-4]6-2, 7-6 [7-0]), Tuesday, May 24. Le Manceau offered itself a beautiful jubilee, in front of an overexcited public on the Philippe-Chatrier court. Better still, he won the first set and made the world No. 8 doubt for a long time. But Tsonga, physically limited and hit in the right shoulder in the 4th set, did not have the weapons to go the distance against the Norwegian, winner after a match of 3:49.
The paradox is immense. A few years ago, an elimination in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament was a cataclysm for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. However, we saw him smiling toothily on the court on Tuesday. Some feared that the Frenchman could spoil his last by suffering a humiliating backhand against a not clumsy Ruud on earth. Tsonga, on the contrary, resisted an opponent 14 years younger for a long time. He can even, on arrival, harbor regrets as the Norwegian seemed takeable.
After a very serious first set, the Manceau never flinched on his service, going so far as to win the tie-break. The second run was a little more complicated, as the first signs of fatigue appeared. But Tsonga, however broken, found the weapons to repair the affront and force Ruud to a new decisive game, this time gleaned by the Norwegian.
Exhausted after two hours of fierce combat, he subsequently lacked lucidity, multiplying unforced errors. Widely beaten in the third set (6-2), he resurfaced in the last round. He even managed to break at 5-5, when he also injured his shoulder. In tears, he insisted on finishing his match. Exhausted, the Manceau even performed one of his last services under the spoon.
More than his last tie-break disputed with a loose shoulder, the last image that we will retain of his rich career is that of a formidable communion with the public. In a particularly well-stocked Central court, Tsonga continued to be encouraged. “Come on ‘Jo!”, “You’re home!”, chanted the crowd on each face-off from the Frenchman. The interested party harangued several of his fans. His aggressiveness, his ardor at the slightest point won sometimes brought us back, from the time when Manceau had the last four at Porte d’Auteuil (two semi-finals in 2013 and 2015).
For his part, Casper Ruud managed this atmosphere “completely new” for him. Without shining brightly, he showed only a few signs of annoyance against an unleashed Tsonga. Victorious in Geneva and Buenos Aires on ocher, semi-finalist in Madrid, Ruud was able to wait, while being able to consider himself lucky not to have been drawn into a fifth set. His second round, probably quieter than the first, will oppose him to the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori, 61st in the world.