Former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to retire after Roland Garros

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has announced that he will retire from tennis after this year's Roland Garros. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the Frenchman said that the 2022 French Open will be his final professional tennis competition.

“It’s been several years where every day there is at least one moment where I think, "What am I doing? Why am I hurting myself like this? Is there still a reason for me to make all this effort?’ My head tells me ‘but you can play all your life’ and at the same time your body reminds you that your abilities to surpass yourself are no longer there," Tsonga said. "In fact, the ultimate reason is to tell myself that this is the last thrill. In 2024, I won’t be playing anymore and for a few weeks now, I’ve decided that I’ll stop playing tennis at French Open.

The former World No. 5 and Australian Open runner-up has battled injuries in recent seasons that's seen his ranking fall outside the top 200. Although he has fought hard to make a comeback, things have not gone according to plan.

The Frenchman revealed that he wanted to step out on his own terms.

"This will be my fifteenth French Open," Tsonga added. "Roland Garros is the tournament that best represents everything I have done in my career. I hope that I will stay in shape before and be able to be who I have always been at this tournament. The goal is to be myself. I have always set myself high goals to try to get what I can. For me, this will be the opportunity to do it one last time. I decided that I had to stop at a moment that I chose, a moment when I was able to go on the court."

A look at Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's career

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga achieved a caeer-high anking of Wold No. 5

Tsonga has had a pretty successful career with 18 singles titles to his name, including two Masters 1000 triumphs in Paris and Toronto. The Frenchman reached the quarterfinals of all Grand Slams, with his best performance being a run to the final of the Australian Open in 2008.

Tsonga is also one of the few players to have posted multiple wins against each of the Big 4. He beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic six times apiece, Rafael Nadal four times and Andy Murray twice.

He was also an integral part of France’s Davis Cup triumph in 2017.

But injury problems have limited his time on the tour in recent seasons. The Frenchman has played only six tour-level matches this year and has failed to progress beyond the second round of any tournament.

Tsonga has received a wildcard for the Monte-Carlo Masters and will be looking to find some semblance of form before his final hurrah at the French Open.