Former world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has announced that he will retire from competitive tennis after the upcoming French Open.
The 36-year-old's 2021 season was disrupted by an arm injury, and he made his comeback at the Open Sud de France back in February, where he was eliminated in the second round.
Tsonga has now slipped to 220th in the rankings after playing just nine singles matches last year, and the 2008 Australian Open finalist believes that now is the right time to call it quits.
"It took me a long time to make this decision. A few weeks ago I decided I was going to stop at Roland Garros this year, my body is telling me 'you can't go any further than what I give you'," Tsonga said on social media.
"I decided that I had to stop at a moment that I chose, a moment when I was able to go on the court. I have always set myself high goals to try to get what I can. For me, this will be the opportunity to do it one last time."
Tsonga has never won a Grand Slam in his professional career but finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2008 Australian Open after a four-set encounter.
The Frenchman has won a total of 18 titles on the singles circuit, while his best finishes at the French Open have been semi-final exits in 2013 and 2015.
Ben Knapton
