This Tuesday, May 24, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga played his last match. At Roland-Garros, the young retiree was joined by his wife Noura El Shwekh and their children, Sugar and Leelow.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is now retired. As he had announced, the Frenchman hangs up his tennis racket after his defeat at Roland-Garros against Casper Ruud. In tears, the athlete therefore bowed out after a final match of almost 4 hours. “Today is a big day for me. The day to say goodbye to my lifelong companion. From a young age I dreamed of being a great sportsman, I never looked back but today Today I allow myself to take the time to thank each person who accompanied me in this great human adventure”, he explained, in tears. In this necessarily complicated and emotional moment, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was able to count on the support of his entire family. On the court, he was indeed joined by his father, his mother, his brother, his sister, his wife Noura El Shwekh and their two sons, Sugar and his little brother, Leelow.
On the clay of the Parisian tournament, he had a tender declaration for the one who shares his life. “I’m in front of you without my racquet which will have been my best friend for 30 years. Becoming a dad reshuffled the cards in my life. Thank you Noura for being there every second of my life. My family becomes my priority again and I hope that the world will calm down as I am at peace today“, launched the now ex-tennis player. In the columns of The Team, Noura El Shwekh explained that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had consulted her before deciding to retire. And that the sportsman wanted to take advantage of their children. “There was a bit of this guilt about leaving us behind at home. Jo always told me: ‘If I play tennis, it’s to be among the best, if not, I’ll stop.’ was a bit of a pact that we had”, she confided.
Noura El Shwekh: “It was important for Jo-Wilfried to finish his story”
“Since the birth of his first son, it had become a little more difficult for him to go and play. The emotional charge was permanentadded the wife of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But I wanted him to complete his project. For me, it was important. For the rest of our lives, to him, to me, to our children, it was important that Jo end his story as he feels it.” With Sugar, Leelow and their mother, the tennis player will therefore be able to start a new lifefar from the tennis courts he has been walking on since his childhood. “Of course we also ask ourselves lots of questions about the kind of daily life that awaits us. Even if Jo has lots of projects, things in progress, that he won’t be bored, there are new goals to set, even daily ones, just to punctuate the days, Noura El Shwekh assures L’Equipe. I inevitably have certain apprehensions because it is the unknown for me.
Subscribe to the Closermag.fr Newsletter to receive the latest news for free
© Sandrine Thesillat
3/12 –
Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga
In tears, the athlete therefore bowed out after a final match of almost 4 hours.
© Sandrine Thesillat
4/12 –
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Noura
In this necessarily complicated and emotional moment, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was able to count on the support of his entire family.
© Sandrine Thesillat
5/12 –
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Noura
On the court, he was indeed joined by his father, his mother, his brother, his sister, his wife Noura El Shwekh and their two sons, Sugar and his little brother, Leelow
© Sandrine Thesillat
6/12 –
Jo Wilfried Tsonga
On the clay of the Parisian tournament, he had a tender statement for the one who shares his life
© Sandrine Thesillat
7/12 –
Noura
“Thank you Noura for being there every second of my life. My family is once again my priority and I hope the world will calm down as I feel today”
© Laurent Lairys
8/12 –
Jo Wilfried Tsonga
In the columns of L’Equipe, Noura El Shwekh explained that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had consulted her before deciding to retire. And that the sportsman wanted to take advantage of their children
© JB Autissier
9/12 –
Jo Wilfried Tsonga
“There was a bit of this guilt about leaving us behind at home. Jo always told me: ‘If I play tennis, it’s to be among the best, if not, I’ll stop.’ was a bit of a pact we had”
© JB Autissier
10/12 –
Jo Wilfried Tsonga
“Since the birth of his first son, it had become a little more difficult for him to go and play. The emotional charge was permanent”
© Perusseau-Veeren
11/12 –
Noura El Shwekh
With Sugar, Leelow and their mother, the tennis player will therefore be able to start a new life, far from the tennis courts he has been walking on since his childhood.
© Perusseau-Veeren
12/12 –
Noura El Shwekh
“Even if Jo has lots of projects, things going on, he won’t be bored, there are new goals to set, even daily ones, just to punctuate the days”