Now down to 243rd in the world, the former N.5 will face his friend from the French Davis Cup team Gilles Simon on Tuesday evening, for his sixth match of the season.

Eliminated in the 2nd round of the Challenger (2nd division) in Quimper, then in the 2nd round of the ATP 250 in Montpellier by pushing the 36th in the world Filip Krajinovic to the tie-break of the 2nd set, and in the 1st round of the ATP 500 in Rotterdam by losing there also in the tie-break (9/7) against the 11th world Hubert Hurkacz, Tsonga is physically fit but is not yet satisfied with his game.

"From my point of view, it's not there yet, but I'm very happy because there has been an evolution and as the matches progress, I feel that the automatic mechanisms are getting back in place. Physically I am more and more liberated, I continue to progress", he analyzes.

No calculation

"I try to play as much as possible, I don't calculate: if I have to go and play a Challenger to play matches, I go there because I know very well that there are only replaying matches and making the most of points and real match situations that I will continue to improve. Especially since in four years, I have played one year... and that's not a lot", underlines- he.

After the Marseille tournament, of which he is the main shareholder, Tsonga is engaged in the Challenger de Pau.

Then we'll see.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga seeks a second wind during the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, February 2, 2022 Pascal GUYOT AFP / Archives

His body has given him almost no respite in recent years: in addition to an underlying sickle cell disease (genetic disease affecting red blood cells and causing great fatigue), he suffered from knees, vertebrae, sacral joint iliac which calcified, forcing him to give up in the 1st round of the Australian Open in 2020. He only resumed the 2021 season in dotted lines at the end of February in Montpellier before ending it on a defeat in the 1st round at Wimbledon.

No pain, but restrictions

But today, "I have no more pain and it's extraordinary", welcomes Tsonga.

"On the other hand, I have restrictions related to my injuries because you don't come out unscathed from a double herniated disc, you don't come out unscathed from an operation on each knee, you don't come out unscathed from a joint which froze”, he underlines.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga juggles the balls in Marseille, February 13, 2022 on the eve of the Open 13 Provence Christophe SIMON AFP

The resulting loss of mobility forces him to compensate and modify certain things in his game, which is what he needs to play matches for.

So what is his goal?

The same he had set for himself in 2019: "Return to a good level to regain pleasure and leave with your head held high", he explains.

"I could very well have said to myself + I'm quitting + when I quit in Australia in 2020. I could have said to myself + It's okay, I've worked hard enough for a year to come back, I came back and I'm recovering badly... The doctors don't know how long I have it, it can last 6 months or 5 years + I hesitated a lot, but I wanted to give myself a chance to stop my head a little high and playing tennis correctly. It's a challenge that I set myself: to stop but at a time when I decided, at a time when I am able to play at a certain level, "says Tsonga.

With his experience, he does not let himself be lulled into certainties about the realization of this project.

But he still has a strong and guiding desire: "To have a good time on the pitch and plan my outing."

© 2022 AFP