Halle Westfalen (Germany) (AFP)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, back on the circuit after a difficult 2018 year, faces Roger Federer in the round of 16 at the ATP Halle on Grass tournament on Thursday, and will be looking to "have fun" against the world number three, has he entrusted to AFP.
Q - You have not played against Federer since 2016, is it a step in your return?
R - Of course, it's always something special, after all these years it's nice to find myself in front of him. It is clear that these are matches where there is nothing to lose, there is everything to gain. When you play against him you feel less pressure. I can not really blush to lose against Roger Federer so I will give everything I have. I will try to enjoy playing my game, and see where I am.
Q - You've never lost on turf against him, is that a good sign?
R - For the moment it's true that I never lost, but because we played only once on grass! If I had played ten times, we would have reversed the roles maybe. My victory in 2011 (Wimbledon) does not give me confidence, because it's another time, it's something else, now I come back from far. I obviously want to do well.
Q - You stayed a long time without playing in 2018. How was your return?
R - To tell you the truth, it's neither better nor worse than I had expected. I'm happy because I'm average, there is nothing catastrophic, I took a lot of time to come back, I continue to pay a little: a whole year without playing, it's like I had already retired last year. But I'm happy to play. Physically it's getting better each week.
? 2019 AFP