Tsonga and his big regret on the circuit: "I regret not having opened up to the world"

Carlos Navarro | 25 Jun 2025 | 17.52

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his last match in Paris in 2022. Source: Getty

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was for many years one of the most recognizable faces on the elite circuit of the ATP. The French player had an overpowering personality and tremendous ability to elevate his game on the big stages, compensating for some gaps in his tennis (especially a backhand that rarely reached outstanding levels) with innate bravery and very little fear when facing the best. This is the only way to explain how he managed to achieve victories against all members of the Big Three, win Masters 1000 titles, and, of course, reach a Grand Slam final.

For all these reasons, it's perhaps surprising to hear him talk about the biggest regret of his sports career. Many, especially those who witnessed his golden era, might point to not having improved a specific shot (again, the backhand) or having fallen short in some matches for a major title; perhaps referring to painful losses in Roland Garros semifinals, notably the one he suffered at the hands of Stan Wawrinka in 2015. However, in a revealing interview on Kevin Ferreira's YouTube channel, the Frenchman pointed in a completely different direction.

"I can say that I have beaten them all (the best, Big Three). If I had won a Grand Slam, would I be a better man today? Would I be happier? I don't think so. I would have a couple million more in my bank account, but that is a fleeting pleasure, that is not the purpose of my life," stated the Frenchman before opening up like never before and pointing to an unexpected issue... linguistic.

"IT'S A SHAME I DIDN'T OPEN UP MORE TO THE WORLD"

"What could I have done better? Learn English. Experience and embrace the real circuit, feel at home everywhere. For me, that was a barrier. At first, I spoke it so poorly that, even though today I can hold a conversation, I don't feel comfortable. It doesn't come naturally, I have to force myself to concentrate, pronounce correctly... and it's not easy. I regret not having opened up to the world. I should have opened up to foreign coaches, but I did it too late. I only had one Australian coach (Roger Rasheed) and one Spanish (Sergi Bruguera). I learned a lot, but I could have done more," expressed the emotional Frenchman, showing remorse for not having "internationalized" his team and therefore broadened his vision of this sport.

Another interesting anecdote revealed by 'Jo-Willy' takes us back to 2014 when he got injured during the final of the Davis Cup against Switzerland. Shortly after, he had committed to playing an exhibition... even though he was in pain that didn't allow him to "even hold a glass." This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsonga y su gran arrepentimiento en el circuito: "Siento no haberme abierto al mundo"

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga