Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Transcribed interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during the Australian Open 2008.
Date: Sunday, 27 January, 2008

Q. What are your thoughts after the match? What are you thinking?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Lot of things. I’m very proud of myself. I’m happy for Novak, because he played unbelievable today. I don’t know if I have to be sad or happy of this final, but I feel great.

Q. What was your feeling coming in? Were you nervous at the start of today’s match?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, no, no. I was okay. Like every day. Very relaxed. I don’t know what say. I think Novak played very good today, and it was tough.

When you have a match, you have one player and one opponent, and you don’t know who’s gonna win. At the end, all the time you have a winner. So today was Novak.

Q. Now that you’ve been in the final, how hungry are you to be back in a final again?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: It’s just unbelievable because the crowd was unbelievable. A lot of noise and everything. I had frisson (goosebumps). It was crazy (smiling).

Q. You seemed quite happy about the amount of time he was playing between points. You mentioned it to the umpire. Do you think it’s fair the gap between points?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, sometimes, you know, when you have to return, you are like this (ready). When your opponent take a lot of time, you go for be ready, and after not, and you are like this (back and forth). When he serves, you are not ready because you are like this (back and forth).

It’s very difficult. Between points you have like 25 seconds for play. When it’s 40 seconds, the umpire have to say something, you know.

Q. How does it feel to be in the top 20?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Pretty good (smiling).

Q. Does this give you the confidence now to maybe break into the top 10?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course, of course. Not everybody can beat player who I beat. So I know Richard or Youzhny or Rafael, they are very good player. And beat them, it’s very difficult, and I did it, so…

Of course, I’m confident now.

Q. How good was it having your mom and dad fly over for the match?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: For me it was very important, because one of the dream of my father, it was to come here, and I did it, so it’s good.

Q. It was a dream for him to come here to see you play?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah.

Q. How long has he been speaking about that?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Since a long time. I don’t know. I cannot say the time. Maybe since I play tennis.

Source: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/…

Transcribed Interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during the Australian Open 2008.
Date: Thursday, 24 January, 2008.

Q. In your wildest dreams, did you expect such a victory?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Sorry?

Q. In your wildest dreams, did you expect such a victory?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, for me it’s a big dream. I don’t know what’s about that. It’s just amazing. I played unbelievable tonight.

I don’t know what’s about that?

Q. What worked for you tonight? What did you like about your game?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Everything. Everything was in and my backhand worked a lot and my serve also, my forehand, my volley, my dropshot, everything. It was — I was moving on the court like never I move, so everything was perfect.

Q. Is there a point where you’re saying, This is ridiculous; this just can’t go on?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: It’s ridiculous, for sure. For sure, because I think it’s the first time I played this level, and it’s here in semifinal of Australian Open. It may be the best moment for…

Q. So you never played this well anywhere against anyone at any level than what you played tennis?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Can you repeat.

Q. You never played anywhere, against anyone, at this level of tennis? You’ve never done this kind of thing before?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Never.

Q. How do you explain it? It’s unbelievable, but how? Why? How do you explain that can happen?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. Maybe before it was different because I never practice like this at the winter. I never practice like this. And this year, I have — I made it, and it work. It work. That’s all.

Q. Can you keep this level up for just one more match?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes. (laughter) Yes, I will try, for sure.

Q. Has the fact that you’ve had to come back from so many injuries given you more motivation to reach the highest level?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Maybe not more motivation, but maybe more pleasure. To be happy of what I’m doing. You know, it’s a passion for me, so, yeah, maybe the pleasure.

Q. Were there times when you thought in your head you’d be able to do it, but physically your body wouldn’t allow you to get to this level of tennis?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Sorry?

Q. Were there times when you had fears that your body, because of the injuries, wouldn’t allow you to get to this level of tennis, even though in your mind you knew you could play at this level?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, it was like that, no? I knew that I can play unbelievable, but my body was not ready for that before. Now is ready, so I do it.

Q. So walk us through what it’s like to play tennis like that. I mean, do you see every ball in slow motion, or is the whole thing a blur? What is it like being out there when you can do that?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. I take it like it’s coming, you know. The ball come, I say, Okay, I hit here. And that’s it.

Q. You seemed to know where his shots were going. Every shot he made you seemed to know where it was going before he hit it. Did you feel that way tonight, that you just guessed right every single time?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, everything was right, you know? Like I said before, the ball come, and I say, Okay, I go there and I go to the net. That’s it, you know. I have no more question to ask me, you know.

I have to play like that, and if I think, Okay, I play there and maybe after – no. I take like it’s coming when I see it.

Q. Against Youzhny at the end you looked a little bit nervous. But tonight did you feel the same at the end when you were serving for the match? Were you calmer this time?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: It was different, because yesterday it was really the first time I met something like that, you know. For me it was unbelievable. Today I said, Okay, yesterday I did it, so today it’s going to be the same.

Q. Were you expecting a different reaction from Nadal on court? I mean, you were surprised by yourself, but were you also surprised by the fact that he wasn’t…

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, I was just surprised about my game. Rafael play the same tennis all the time. His level is very high and it’s very difficult to play against him. But today, for me, everything was in, so what can I say about it?

Q. Why do you think you haven’t produced tennis anywhere near this level up until really now?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Because, like I said before, my body was not ready. And now maybe with the work and everything is more ready for that, because it’s difficult to move, to hit very hard, and everything.

Q. Because you’ve never been this far in a major tournament, is it challenging trying to plan out what you do between now and Sunday’s final?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, no, no. I don’t think so. I will do everything for you and then I will take some rest and do the same thing as before.

So, no, it’s not — it will be okay because I play three sets, so I don’t need like four days for rest. It’s okay. I’m all right.

Q. How are you going to spend the next two days? What will you be doing?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I will do press tonight; tomorrow rest; little bit press after tomorrow; and that’s it. I will play every day one hour. I will make some train, training. That’s it.

Q. How important was the crowd tonight?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: The crowd?

Yes, it was very important, because I like that when there is a lot of people like this. They give me lot of energy.

Q. If you play this well again on Sunday night, do you think either Federer or Djokovic can beat you?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. But I will do my best on the court, so I know it’s going to be difficult to beat me.

Q. Do you think you played at such a high level the last couple of days, particularly tonight, that your nerves in a sense haven’t really been tested in a really tight situation because you played too well to get into that situation?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, I don’t know, but the first one was not very easy for me. I play against Andy and it was very tough, so I don’t know. I will see, but now I’m in final, and, okay, if I win in three sets, I don’t need the… (laughter).

If I win in three sets it’s perfect. If it’s four sets, we will see. If it’s five, maybe it’s going to be the same. Maybe I will lose; maybe I will win. I don’t know.

But now I’m in final and I can win, like I don’t know. We are both on the court, so one is the winner.

Source: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/…

Transcribed interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during the Australian Open 2008.
Date: Tuesday, 22 January, 2008

Q. I suppose it’s a bit cliche, but can you describe the emotion and the feeling you felt when you won that match point and collapsed to the ground?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know how to say that. It’s like I want to cry, I want to smile, I want everything. And it’s a lot of emotion, so…

Q. You were very emotional when you spoke to Jim Courier afterwards. Was that part of the process of the long road back that you have had from all those injuries and just sort of overwhelmed you?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, of course. I have a lot of image in my head, and it’s coming like (indicating) like this, and it’s very — it’s very big. And, yeah, it’s a lot of emotion.

Q. When you had those injuries, was there ever a time when you thought of giving up, of not coming back, and that this day might not happen?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Sorry? Yes, not really, but, yes, sometime it was like, oh, it’s too tough. I don’t know if I will do it.

Q. Can you just talk briefly about obviously the semifinal and how you see a matchup with Nadal. How will you approach that?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. Like every match before. I try to stay on this world and that’s it. I will do like every time I do before, to be relaxed on the court, and we will see what’s happened.

Q. Nadal is a different player from every other player.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, maybe, but he has two arms and two legs like me, so we will see on the court.

Q. Have you played Nadal before?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, one time.

Q. US Open?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: US Open.

Q. Youzhny is a player with a lot of big wins. He’s won against Nadal, won against Federer. Was it a sufficient match, and what was the approach for you before you went into the game?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: To the game? No, I know it will be a tough match. But I play better than last year, and I’m very confident in my game, so I will see. I will see after tomorrow.

Source: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/…

Interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after defeating Rickard Gasquet in the Australian Open.
Date: Sunday, 20 January, 2008

Q. What was the difference between you and Richard today?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. At the end, I won, and him, he lost. I played well. I was very good in my body. I felt everything good, so that’s the difference, maybe.

Q. When you first looked at the draw, and you had Murray in round one, did you think the winner of that match had a great chance of making good progress here in the championship?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course, because when you take a seed at the first round, you know after you have his draw. So it’s — you have better chance to play some player not seeded. So it’s better, of course.

Q. Are you gaining more confidence as the matches roll on? Do you feel you could match it further in the tournament?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: With who?

Q. With the rest of the players.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I feel good. I work a lot before this tournament, so I’m ready to play. And I just take every matches, take step by step, and I do my best, and then I see.

Q. Having beaten Murray in the first round, was it important to you to back that up, beating another player of equal ability and seeding?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course. It’s good for me, because it’s lot of confidence to beat a player like that. He’s very good. And for me, it was a test, you know. When you beat somebody like this, you know you can beat a lot of guys, so…

Q. Was it difficult for you to put it out of your mind that he was your friend?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Who, Richard?

Q. Yeah.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, yeah. It was difficult, but now we play like four times in six months, so that’s — I have to play against him all my career, so… Now I would like to say it’s normal.

Q. You’ve now played two matches on Rod Laver Arena. What is your impression of the court, and how comfortable are you on this stage?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I’m very comfortable on this arena. Every time when I played, it was full, so there is a very good atmosphere, and I feel very good on this court, yeah.

Q. What do you think about the comparison between you and Muhammad Ali (laughter).

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. It’s just an honor for me for me to be compared with him, and that’s all.

Q. Do you fly like a butterfly and…

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, that’s the difference. I’m not flying on the court like him, but I try to fly.

Q. Was it more difficult mentally preparing for Richard as opposed to playing Andy Murray in the first round? They’re both the top-10 players.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Was it more difficult? Maybe you have to — like you say before, it’s difficult to play a friend, and you have to separate everything, say, Okay, we are friends but when we are on the court, it’s different, and I need to do my best for beat him. And that’s the difficulty.

Q. How excited are you at the way you’re playing at the moment?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I’m very exciting, because it’s my best results for the moment. I’m very exciting. But I want to see far, and I have a quarterfinal to play. And I’m just exciting to play this quarterfinal. So I will do my best, and I will take fun and I will see after?

Q. You spoke of center court, enjoying playing there. How important is the crowd there? You said you enjoy the crowd and enjoy the atmosphere and try to pump the crowd up. Do you draw from the crowd?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Sorry?

Q. Do you get confidence from the crowd?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course.

Q. Do you enjoy that?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah. I don’t know, it’s my third or fourth Grand Slam. And I want take every moment. I try to take some strength, because it’s just unbelievable to be there. And a lot of people would like to be there. And me, I’m there. And I can play. I can play with the public. I can make a lot of show. And that’s just cool. I’m very happy to be on the court.

Q. A lot of players say that this Grand Slam, because it is the most relaxed probably of the four, brings the best out of them. Do you feel that, too, that you are nice and relaxed, you’re playing well and that it’s an exciting situation for you to be in?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I don’t know if it’s the more relaxed, but me, I feel very good there.

Q. More relaxed than the French, probably? More relaxed than playing at Roland Garros?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I don’t know. I never played there. I just played one just one time, but I lost first round. I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m just happy to play tennis. If it’s at Roland Garros or here, I try to be very, very happy to be there and see the chance I have.

Q. What was going through your mind during the second set when you were serving for the set, and then you missed that, and then you lost the set in a tiebreak?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I lost the set and I said, Shit, shit, what’s wrong with me? And I say, Okay, stay on the court. And I said, Okay, he played the second set like me, and maybe he’s going to be tired, also. So we are equal, and let’s go for the third set.

Q. The last few years in Australia there’s been players that have been the story, I mean, like Baghdatis two years ago and González. You’re looking like that player this year.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah.

Q. How do you cope with all these people and extra attention and being the focus of it all?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Oh, I don’t know. I try to stay focused, very focused. And I played — I played junior before, and it’s helped me because when I played junior and I was in semifinal or something like this, it was exactly the same experience for me. So I have some experience of this moment, and I try to stay focused.

Having already defeated ninth-seeded Andy Murray in the opening round of the Australian Open, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be looking to pull off his second big upset of the week on Saturday. To do so he’ll have to take out Richard Gasquet.

When the Australian Open draw was revealed a few days before the start of the tournament, it looked like the top half was by far the strongest section. But after two rounds, the third quarter of the bracket is shaping up to be one of the most enticing for tennis fans.

There was only one real surprise in the second round of the third quarter on Wednesday, as 26-seed Stanislas Wawrinka retired in the fourth set of his match with Marc Gicquel of France.

The most enticing matchup in the second round of the third quarter of the Australian Open draw is right there on the top of the page: eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet vs. Feliciano Lopez. Gasquet is looking to keep up the momentum from a 2007 campaign in which he qualified for the year-end Masters Cup and finished at No. 8 in the world. Lopez could be equally talented, but he has not achieved quite as consistent results. If his big serve and forehand are working well against Gasquet, this should be a fiercely competitive match that features plenty of amazing shots.

The 22-year-old Frenchman outlasts the 20-year-old Scot in a fourth-set tiebreaker to prevail in a first-round matchup between two rising stars.

Transcribed interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Date: Monday, 14 January, 2008

Q. Very tight match to come through.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, it was tough. But I played well. I don’t know, I’m just happy to win today because it was very difficult.

Q. What pleased you most about your game today?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I don’t know. I served well. I go to the net. It worked, so…

Q. Did you have some leg problems?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, some leg problem, cramping. I don’t know why. Maybe of the stress.

It was tough because the third one and the fourth one was very difficult. And I tried to, you know, keep my body healthy, and I won.

Q. How good does it feel to have beaten someone ranked so high?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: So good because it’s my first win here, so I’m just happy it was on the Rod Laver. It was just nice. I don’t know what to say about that. Unbelievable.

Q. Were you worried when he came back so well in the third? How worried were you at that stage?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, I said, Okay, we have to play a fourth one and a fifth one if I need, so…

Q. Is consistency something that you’ve got to work on?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Sorry?

Q. Being consistent.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I try to. I try to. I think it’s the way to go for me, you know, play on the baseline, go to the net. I just try to be – I don’t know how say that – like complete, no?

Q. You missed a couple of years with injuries.

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah.

Q. You’ve had some good results at the U.S. and French Open. Your development is a bit slower than Marcos, who is the same year as you. Are you confident of continuing that push through to a top 20 or top 10?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah. If I can do it, I will do it. But for the moment, I will see. I have to play a next round here. I will see what’s happen.

Q. Are you worried about a let-down at all?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, no, no.

Q. How do you avoid that, to make sure you keep going on, to remain concentrated?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: I do my best, that’s all. Try to do my best and I see after. Yeah, just do my best.

Q. How do you stay mentally tough in a very stressful situation like that? You talked about your leg cramping up because of the stress. How do you deal with the mental side of the stress?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I just say in my head, you know, I practice a lot all these months before, and I say, Okay, I practice is not for nothing, so I have to do it.

Q. You won the support of the crowd out there. Did you feel that at all?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I feel it. I feel it. It was unbelievable. The public was great with me. Amazing. Just amazing.

Q. You approached the net 102 times. Is that usual for you? Did you go in with a game plan of coming to the net a bit more often against Murray?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: No, I don’t know. I think it is the evolution of my game. So I have to go to the net.

Q. Do you think the doubles performance in Sydney helped that aspect?

JO-WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course. Of course.

Source: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/…