I translated a German interview with Jo:
Interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
„I’m not nervous, just very agog“
Since 26 years the French tennis fans wait for a victory of one of their compatriots at the Grand Slam tournament in Paris. They have high hopes in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who had to cancel his participation last year because he was injured. In an interview with sport.ARD.de the 24years old tennisplayer is talking about with which expectations he is going to travel in his home country.
sport.ARD.de: Your first and so far only appearance at the Grand Slam tournament in Paris ended in 2005 already in the 1st round. This year you are going into the tournament as one of the topplayers. What kind of feeling is this?
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Actually I have already been a few times in Roland Garros.
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ARD.de: Really? In the stats we can only find your loss to US-American Andy Roddick.
Tsonga: That’s true. But I was already allowed to practice at a youth camp on the grounds when I was 13years old. Beside this I have seen a lot of matches and great players from the stands. Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin. They have impressed me.
sport.ARD.de: Now you are on the court yourself, are the favourite of the crowd and get acclaimed.
Tsonga: I have always hoped that this would happen one day and I was able to accomplish it.
sport.ARD.de: The longing of the French tennis fans is huge. They wait since 26 years, since the triumph of Yannick Noah, for the victory of a compatriot. Do those expectations make you nervous?
Tsonga: I have to live with this pressure. I’m really not nervous, just very agog for the days in Paris. My family and lots of friends are coming in order to see me play. I’m looking forward to this, but it doesn’t change that I have to blank out the surrounding when I stand on the court.
sport.ARD.de: You make the impression on the court as if you wouldn’t just play with the opponent, but also with the audience.
Tsonga: I am who I am, let my emotions out, this is helping my game. What other people think of me is secondary, but it seems as people like my manner.
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ARD.de: You have your nickname "Muhammad Ali” because of your resemblace with the legendary boxer. But you also seem to have adopt his motto: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” How important is this image for you?
Tsonga: It doesn’t really matter for me. But of course it helps the tennis to have different kinds of players. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or myself – each of us is playing differently, cheering differently, appearing differently. The people have the choice who to support.
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ARD.de: You already suffered as a young player from many injuries, last year you had to cancel the French Open because of a meniscus injury. Do you go this time free of complaints to Paris?
Tsonga: I can’t really complain. I feel healthy, fit and optimally prepared.
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ARD.de: When you were able to go into a season for the first time in perfect physical shape you made a great stir. Your SF against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open 2008 is unforgettable. He said afterwards: I didn’t have a chance.
Tsonga: This tournament and this match in particular have been my breakthrough for sure. Suddenly the people looked at me and paid attention. Everything around me has changed, but I stayed the same person.
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ARD.de: In sports it went onhill for you, up to #6 in the ranking. You won 4 tournaments in the last two years, however all of them on hardcourt. Is it annoying for you as a French player that the surface in Paris is clay?
Tsonga: I have to live with this. I don’t know if it really affects my chances of victory. I just try to play my game on clay. They won’t change the surface because of me.
sport.ARD.de: With which ambition do you go to Paris? Another big victory against Nadal wouldn’t be bad, right?
Tsonga: I don’t think that far. I take potluck.
sport.ARD.de: What’s your aspiration for this season?
Tsonga: I want to win a big tournament this year. This is my wish. Only who wins a Grand Slam tournament will be remembered by the people.
German source of the article:
http://sport.ard.de/sp/tennis/news200905/20/interview_tsonga.jsp