Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Is the Top Four Beyond His Reach?

It was a warm and sunny English afternoon on the grass of centre court when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced himself to the tennis world once again.

The Frenchman caused the biggest shock at Wimbledon 2011, beating Roger Federer 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Tsonga became the first player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam from two sets down. Coincidentally, the Swiss lost in the same fashion just months later. He led by two sets against Novak Djokovic before losing their U.S. Open semifinal.

After beating Federer at Wimbledon, Tsonga went on to record an excellent second half of the year, winning Metz and Vienna as well as being a finalist at the World Tour Finals.

No one can argue that Tsonga is a talented player. He exudes flair and class, and on his day he can be just as good as anyone. But is it plausible for the Frenchman to break into the top four?

Despite his run to the Australian Open final in 2008 and victory over Djokovic in the quarterfinal stages of the same Grand Slam in 2010, Tsonga's real emergence into the top 10 arguably started in 2011.

That was his most injury-free and consistent year to date and was spent mostly without a coach. Currently No. 6 in the world, Tsonga returned to the top 10, despite reasonably early five-set losses to Alexandr Dolgpolov at the Australian Open and to Stan Wawrinka at the French Open.

Tsonga’s most notable performances of 2011 were his comeback against Roger Federer at Wimbledon and making the final of the World Tour Finals in December.

However, Tsonga's problem is that he lacks the consistency of the top four.

Despite such an excellent 2011, his year only really started after the French Open, when he lost in the final at Queens to Andy Murray, suggesting that his consistency would damage any suggestion of his presence at the very top.

Murray, ranked No. 4 in the world, has reached at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam in his last five appearances. Tsonga has been in two Grand Slam semifinals across three years.

The Frenchman is a player who can at one moment look absolutely brilliant, but at times rather average. His record against the top four last year was not particularly impressive either.

Tsonga lost on 10 occasions when he played the top four in 2011, and he will need to improve that record this year.

A five-set loss to Kei Nishikori at the Australian Open this year still suggests frailties within his game. He may have won Doha at the start of the year, but one could argue that he may have not won had Federer not pulled out of his semifinal with a bad back.

The Frenchman is certainly a player to look out for on the tour and is someone who is capable of pulling off a win over one of the top four on the odd occasion. Sadly, it looks as though he will only be that player.

The top four is out of Tsonga's reach.