Despite the unconditional and noisy support of the public, despite a resistance sometimes worthy of his heyday, Tsonga - injured in the right shoulder at the very end of the game and in tears on the match point - bows out after 17 and a half years on the circuit where he built one of the finest records in French tennis.
For his part, Ruud will face the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (61st), winner of another Frenchman, Ugo Humbert (46th).
© 2022 AFP