Nicknamed “Ali,” Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was born and raised in Le Mans, France. At age 18, he won the US Open Boys’ Singles title and ranked as the number two boys’ single player in the world in 2003. His professional career began the following year, but a string of injuries took him out of the game until 2007.

His comeback at the 2007 Australian Open was one for the books. He participated in the longest tiebreak in Australian Open history, which he ultimately won. He also went on to compete in Wimbledon, the US Open and the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon that year, rising up the ranks and into the top 50.

Tsonga secured his first Masters title and first ATP 500 Series title in 2008 and 2009 respectively. By 2013, he had secured ten ATP title victories and became the only other player, next to Rafael Nadal, to beat Roger Federer at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

His success continued until various hamstrings and knee injuries crippled his game in 2018 and knocked him out of the top 50 singles rankings for the first time in over a decade.

Tsonga’s playing style is marked by his sharp serve, dynamic groundstroke and precise forehand. Statistics show he’s most successful on hard courts vs. clay courts, while his return of serve is less powerful.

His notable victories include the 2010 Grand Slam at the Australian Open, where he beat Novak Djokovic and claimed the singles title, and the 2016 Monte-Carlo Masters, where he defeated Roger Federer in his first post-surgery tournament.

After withdrawing from the 2018 French Open to focus on his recovery, Tsonga released a statement confirming he was taking time to find “movement and confidence” in his knee again. He maintains getting back on the court is still a priority.