Australian Open Men’s Final 2008: Can ‘tsunami’ Tsonga do the unthinkable?

Updated: Thursday 24 January 2008

2008 is only three weeks old and many of us are just starting to get our feet wet as the year progresses. For Jo-Wilfried Tsonga his feet are already soaking wet from a waterfall of fame he has just received in Australia.

Tsonga comes from a background far away from the bright lights that are flashing on him in Melbourne Australia. He is a French citizen born in Le Mans. His father Didier Tsonga is a chemistry teacher who played handball nationally and internationally for Congo. His French mother is school teacher. From a tennis standpoint he quietly had a successful junior career, winning the U.S. Open Juniors title in 2003 by defeating Marcos Baghdatis in the final, and also reached the semi-final stage of the other three Grand Slam events. Professionally his notoriety started to take form in 2007 when he won four Challenger titles. In addition to this during the 2007 Queen’s Club Championships he beat former world number one Lleyton Hewitt ranked #16 in the ATP rankings and 14 th ranked Richard Gasquet at the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon tournament.

The sudden recognition may or may not startle the unseeded Tsonga, who has never gotten past the 4 th round of a Grand Slam tournament. But his work at the 2008 Australian Open has certainly stunned the sporting world. Tsonga’s incredible bull-like run has knocked out number 14 seed Mikhail Youzhny, number 9 seed Andy Murray, number 8 seed Richard Gasquet and number 2 seed Rafael Nadal. His run has landed him a place in the final against the winner of the Roger Federer (Number 1 seed and defending champion) and Novak Djokovic (Number 3 seed) semi-final.

Odds-makers believe the mastery of Federer or the phenomenal talent Djokovic will end Tsonga’s dream run. However, one should not count the 22 year old who many believe looks like the great boxing legend Muhammad Ali. He may not be as charismatic as Ali but certainly may have Ali’s mystic. The sporting world remembers when a 22- year- old Ali (a seven to one underdog) shook the world by beating heavyweight champion Sonny Liston not once but twice in convincing fashion. While that feat can never be repeated, Tsonga can defiantly make up a tennis version of that feat.

Tsonga has demonstrated a complementary blend of explosive power and touch which has helped create a showcase kids will love to emulate in their video games. His capabilities are endless when one witnesses his lashing groundstrokes, spinning drop volleys and change-of -pace serves.

Despite his natural abilities, a stable and motivated psychological and emotional mindset cannot abandon him when he takes the grand stage. By reaching the 2008 Australian Open final, Tsonga became the first player to reach his first ATP final in a Grand Slam tournament since Gustavo Kuertan (1997 French Open). Tsonga surely will experience a mix of emotions during this first-time experience. His would- be- opponent Federer or Djokovic are accustomed to Grand Slam finals and their experience will be an asset. Any form of irrationality by Tsonga will lead to mistakes which cannot be afforded against Federer or Djokovic.

So far Tsonga has taken advantage of the grandest moments of his life. Surely this will continue in the men’s final hereby pleasing his idol Muhammad Ali.

Cougar2000All-American

700 days ago

Score 0

I think it's possible. At the same time, Tsonga better bring his A and A+ game for the final. It's not going to be easy.

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