Among the favorites, the 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas (4th in the world) came back two sets behind to beat the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (66th) 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in 3h34 .

"Today is a great day for me, the day to say goodbye to my lifelong companion," tennis said Tsonga after his career-ending loss to Casper Ruud 6-7 (6/ 8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 7-6 (7/0).

"I had to be good among the greatest players of all time and an unequaled French generation, but today I did it and I'm happy," he said in a speech. uttered before leaving a competition court for the last time.

As a premonitory sign, the sky shed a few tears before the players entered the Center court.

But it was in a ray of sunshine, the beginnings of the fireworks to come, that Tsonga entered the court with his arms raised, smiling before finding himself dazed when he realized the extent of the fervor that greeted him.

"It's not the last Jo!", Launched a supporter.

Because the 37-year-old Manceau had warned in March that he would put away his rackets at the end of this Roland-Garros.

The magic worked

On paper, this match against the world N.8 seemed lost in advance for the ex-N.5 now 297th and who had not won a match since his defeat in the 2nd round in Marseille in February against Félix Auger - Aliassime.

His last victory against a Top 10 player dates back to that obtained against Matteo Berrettini, then 9th, in the 2nd round of the Masters 1000 in Paris in 2019.

But Tsonga had warned, there is always something magical happening for him at Roland-Garros, even if clay is not his favorite surface.

And the magic worked.

While the encouragement fell continuously from the almost full stands of the Philippe-Chatrier court, the suspended retiree behaved like a firm champion.

In the stands rose "Go Jo-Wil, go, go", "Go Jo-Wil, your supporters are there".

On the court, big serves were crushed, powerful forehands followed by the net to conclude with a huge smash, a series of huge forehand slaps that ended up overtaking his opponent...

Benoît Paire, Richard Gasquet and Gaël Monfils (from left to right) during a ceremony marking the retirement of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Roland-Garros, May 24, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

"Go go Jo-Wil", sang the spectators on the air, on the trumpet and bass drum, of the title "Everybody dance now": Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made his last dance last 3h48.

And again, the game could have lasted longer if yet another injury had not once again thwarted his performance.

Because, after a moving Marseillaise intoned by nearly 15,000 people during the change of sides at 6-5, when Tsonga served to push the match into a decisive set it quickly became apparent that his right shoulder no longer allowed him to play. .

The standing stadium

And his ultimate match point, Tsonga played it in tears in front of a standing stadium.

After seventeen and a half years of playing the biggest tournaments in the world, he left the circuit with one of the finest records in French tennis: 18 titles (only Noah did better), 45 victories against the Top 10, in least two victories against all members of the Big4 (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray), quarter-finals played in the four Majors and a final at the Australian Open (2008).

He can also boast of being one of only three players to have beaten Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic when they were world No.1.

He is also one of only three players to have beaten these three as well as Andy Murray in Grand Slams.

All that Tsonga will miss is this Grand Slam title which crowns the greatest.

A few hours later, his friend Gilles Simon fought a fight he has the secret to beat Pablo Carreno (18th) 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, 6-4 in 3h54 and qualify for the middle of the night for the second round of his final Roland-Garros before retiring at the end of the year.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga greeted by his father who wears a "Merci Jo" tshirt during his farewell to tennis, at Roland-Garros on May 24, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

"It's just unreal, because the victory, when I enter the field, damn it is far ...", he launched to the brave public who remained to encourage him until the end despite the cold and the night.

Richard Gasquet easily qualified and Caroline Garcia made a successful comeback after two months of absence, while Benoît Paire was eliminated.

© 2022 AFP