One of the perks of working as a cub reporter at a bi-weekly newspaper a few hours outside Melbourne was the ability to cover the main warm-up tournament to the junior Australian Open. I had the chance to see the world’s best tennis players three years before just about everyone else would.
In 2002, the final was between two French boys—Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In the small Victorian town of Traralgon that hosted the event, they still talk about the match.
Tsonga started the better and won the first set, but Gasquet, who had been forced deep beyond the baseline, made better court position. In a thrilling contest he came back to win the match and the title in three sets.
The final was hailed by seasoned junior tennis watchers as the best they had ever seen and Gasquet, just 15 at the time, was immediately rated better at the same age than Lleyton Hewitt, then the number one player in the world.
Gasquet, although a top 10 player, has yet to really kick on in the manner one would expect of someone with that much ability. With all the attention and expectation on him and another young French star, Gael Monfils, Tsonga has been the less acclaimed of France’s young tennis stars.
But not anymore.
After giving world number two Rafael Nadal a frightful pounding in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Tsonga has truly arrived. He may turn out to be even better than Gasquet or Monfils.
Like the junior final he played down the road six years ago, they will talk about this match for some time to come.
The 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win—which propels world number 38 Tsonga into his first ever Grand Slam final—was of an extraordinarily high standard, the Frenchman pummeling Nadal with an all-court game that was brutal and artistic.
The loss equalled Nadal’s worst in a Grand Slam ever, his seven games matching the total he mustered against Andy Roddick at the 2004 US Open when he was barely a pup, not the dominant force he is today.
At 22, Tsonga more than resembles a young Muhammad Ali in the face, and even struts and plays to the crowd in a manner befitting the Champ. This one-sided match rekindled memories of Ali flattening Sonny Liston in 1965.
Those at Rod Laver Arena will struggle to recall anyone hitting a forehand harder than Tsonga did tonight, but it was his touch at the net that proved the real eye-opener. Nadal was routinely forced to gnash his teeth as his opponent pulled out miracle volley after miracle volley.
Poor Nadal must have thought he was in Paris—Tsonga was the fourth Frenchman he faced in this tournament, and one Frenchman too many as it turned out.
For Tsonga, he becomes the third unseeded player in as many years to make the final—following on from Marcos Baghdatis in 2006 and Fernando Gonzales in 2007—but of the trio he looks the most likely to go all the way.
Whoever wins the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic tomorrow night will have only muted celebrations knowing who awaits them in the final.
Regardless of the final result, the fact is this: A star has arrived.
6 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
What SERIES of lifts after the Williams' let us down
First the truly welcomed POSITIVE remarks by Venus about NEITHER of them going away or taking this loss - and letting it phase them
NOW!!! A new Hero - "Jo Wilfred Tsonga" WoW!!!
Go guys!!!
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Nino Colla about 1 year ago
Wow Nadal got batted around. I'd love to see Tsonga play like he did against Federer in the Finals. Nadal said if he plays like that, he could give Federer a run for his money.
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Jonathan Caliari about 1 year ago
I can't remember the last time I saw such a perfectly played match. Nadal played well, but Tsonga was just out of this world. No one could've beat him last night, and that includes Federer. It's funny, with just Fed, Djokovic and Tsonga remaining you'd think the rest of the tournament wouldn't even be worth watching because Roger would just roll though these guys. But honestly, he's playing the worst of the three. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he lost to either.
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Mung Bean about 1 year ago
Tsonga is the man. It is great to see such a stand up guy at the top of mens tennis. Lately I have found federer far too conceited for my liking, quoting stats about just how many matches or whatever he has won in a row. go away. Actually part of the blame falls with Jim Courier for being such a douche of an interviewer - when i hear him speak I want to smash the telly with my racquet.
Tsong is a modest everyman and it will be a pleasure watching him get even better. Great for the sport.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
If Tsonga plays like he did against Nadal when he plays Federer no doubt hes gunna take he Open from Federer
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Tj Turner about 1 year ago
Tsonga is good I think his backhand did not stand up to Djokovics after the 1st set. I hope he would win, but he wasnt the better player that day. I wish the William siters would not mention being injured, I think alot of tennis players are injury plaqued its a rough game and a long season. Who ever trains the best will be in the best shape. With that being said they are great, and combined will probably end up with close to 20 majors. How great would they be considered if one was 6 years younger than the other. This way they would not have had to compete with the other? They would both be up there with Graf, Evert, and Navratalova. As it stands they are a great story but not in the top 5, well unless they each win 2, 3, or 4 more
Check this kid out she might be something she's a complete stud
http://www.youtube.com/user/Atennisstory
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