17 years of career that included the Australian Championship final and a record ranking of 5th place came to an end tonight (Tuesday) when Joe Wilfried Tsonga was eliminated in the first round of the Roland Garros with a 7: 6, 6: 7, 2: 6, 6: 7 loss to Caspar Road.
In an exciting ceremony in front of a supportive home crowd, the 37-year-old Frenchman said: "I have always said that one of my goals is to inspire children and other people and I very much hope I have done so throughout my career."
Tsonga first emerged in 2004 as one of the best youth players in the world and in his first game in the ATP round he defeated former first-ranked Carlos Moya.
In 2008 the Frenchman stunned when from 38th place in the rankings and after ousting Andy Murray, Richard Gasque, Michael Eugene and Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Australian Championship where he was stopped only by Novak Djokovic.
Later, the frenetic Frenchman reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Australia, but instability and injuries kept him out of the world top.
"I have a lot of degrees that I do not remember how I got them and what happened in their games" concluded the excited Tsonga;
"But I will not forget anyone who told me I was inspired."
18 - Jo-Wilfried #Tsonga finished an 18-year professional career after losing to Casper #Ruud at the French Open First Round, ending a journey that included reaching the World No.
5 ranking and winning 464 tour-level matches since September 2004. Merci.
pic.twitter.com/Pzx6yWO5c7
- OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 24, 2022
Even today: Daniel Medvedev showed no trace of his recent hernia surgery.
The world number two defeated Pekondo in three sets at the Argentine Guinea and will meet the Serbian Lesello Djerra in the second round.
In contrast, 14th-ranked Dennis Shapovalov finished his way in the tournament.
"I did not show up for the game at all" the Canadian summed up the loss in three sets to 19-year-old Holger Rona.
Andrei Rublev (7) also came up.
In the women's event, eighth-ranked Carolina Pliskova returned from a battle lag to defeat France's Thessa Adrianapiritmu.
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