Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ADVANTAGE: MIXED RACE! AVANTAGE : MÉTISSAGE ! Walking for the first time in December 2019 upon Mauritian soil, trodden by the feet of a dozen generations of immigrants from three continents, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga discovered a mixture of colours and cultures of which he himself is an example. En foulant pour la première fois en décembre 2019 la terre de l’île Maurice, battue par les pieds d’une douzaine de générations d’immigrants venus de trois continents, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a retrouvé les couleurs d’un métissage dont il est lui-même un exemple. BY GILBERT DEVILLE – PHOTOGRAPHS CLYDE KOA WING Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s handshake is a revelation. In the hand of this right-handed player whose serve reaches 230 kph, you can feel each finger barded with muscles; the result of years spent holding a racket hitting and receiving shots from his opponents. It hints at the history of the fight to the top of world tennis. RISE TO FAME Young Jo-Wilfried grew up in a village near Le Mans, spending his holidays on his grandmother’s farm in Normandy, fishing on the banks of the nearby rivers. His parents encouraged his early childhood passion for tennis. “I owe them a lot. To become a tennis champion, your parents have to be prepared to sacrifice time and money.” From the local club, he was admitted to the junior team of the French Tennis Federation in Poitiers, on a sport and study programme, before gaining admission to the demanding INSEP (the French national sports institution). “Following an education like that is also a school of life, it teaches you how to get by on your own, and allows you to flourish.” Jo-Wilfried Tsonga shone on the world junior circuit before entering the professional circuit in 2004. His fame soared in 2008 when, at just 22, he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semi-final of the Australian Open in three sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3! Although he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic, his reputation was made, with spectacular strokes from the baseline, later backed up by 18 singles titles, six Grand Slam semi-finals, a silver medal in the doubles in the 2012 Olympics, and a Davis Cup win in 2017. Since the 2018 season, Tsonga has been forced to rest for long periods due to health problems. A calf injury forced him to skip the US Open Tournament in 2021. STRENGTH OF HEART In addition to his exceptional career, he has won sympathy and respect thanks to his character. Behind the powerful beast on the courts hides a simple man, open-hearted and happy with his mixed family roots. Relaxing, he watches his wife and their son enjoying themselves among the coconut palms of the Dinarobin Beachcomber for a few days of real relaxation with his family. “It’s an opportunity for the three of us to get together, outside the rhythmof matches and travel for work. If people recognise me, they are discreet and friendly and respect our privacy.” Drawn by the turquoise ocean, the white sandy beaches, and the Mauritian hospitality, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, son of a French school teacher and a former handball professional from Congo, is also attracted by “this land of populations and mixed parentage.” “My wife has Egyptian, Canadian, German and Swiss roots. Our son has parents of diverse origins,” says the champion, convinced of the advantage “of keeping an open mind and being of mixed blood.” Meeting the little island of Mauritius and its friendly way of life gives him hope that one day all of humanity will become richer with such shared diversity, “like the Mauritians!” he says. And then he adds with a laugh, “There will be Mauritians all over the world!” One day, too, he will retire. Based on his own career and values, the 36-year-old tennis player would like – particularly with the All In Tennis Academy, a high-level sports and academic structure which he sponsors – to pass on the aptitudes and attitudes needed to become “champions of real life.” Not forgetting that it is by respecting the other that you have the best advantage.
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