Jo Wilfred-Tsonga

I've noticed a vast improvement of him over the last year. Looks physically better and all-round better. Do any of you see Jo-Wilfred winning a Grand Slam next year? Sadly folks I see Jo become likelier to win a Grand Slam then Andy.

What's your thoughts on him on for the next season?

They have about the same chance of winning a slam.

I think Wilfred's improved more in the last 12 months and has shown better mentally in Grand Slams.

Jo can be a beast when he's fit and on form. However he still appears to be streaky.

I thought his streakiness was due to injury and an inability to string together a long period of fitness, however, judging by the way he completely unravelled against Fed at the USO, I think he may just be a streaky player.

If he is on form I consider him to be a more dangerous opponent than Murray. I hope he can maintain some consistency because, along with Delpo, he's the only player imo who can challenge the top four at slam level.

noleisthebest wrote:They have about the same chance of winning a slam.

Hey, you are doing Tsonga no good hyping the little cub up like this. He does not have a 99% chance of winning a slam(s) like the powerful, mental giant of Dunblane.

I agree with emancipator, he just seems far too inconsistent, same as other players on the tour.

Can't see Tsonga winning a slam before Murray. If I had to guess murray has a 60 percent chance of winning a slam at some point Tsonga 10 percent chance. Jo has been to one slam final and Andy to 3 and he is younger. Andy is almost always in the quarters and semis of the slams with rare exception and Jo has a good run here or there. A great talent no doubt and fun to watch but not really in Andy's league.

I love watching Tsonga, and he is a real danger and fun to watch when on form, but he is just horribly inconsistent.

Also think he could do with getting a little fitter - I know he has a powerful build naturally, but I think a few pounds shed wouldn't hurt at all.

Its gonna be Rafa-Djoko show for the next few years.

I think Tsonga has shown that bit more consistency though in the last year though. I agree that he needs to keep up performances rather than fade away after a few matches.

Staying healthy may help him produce consistent results. He has improved shots including some new SHBH shots.

I wouldn't say he has more chance than Murray. He has had a good year, but i'm not sure he can consistently reach the latter stages like Murray can.

The great thing about that Federer match at SW19 was how he stayed so calm and mentally strong when 2 sets down as was able to produce his best to come back. I don't think Murray could do that if i'm honest.

I see where the OP is coming from, because its been a while since Murray brought his best to one of those big matches against the players above him. But I think Murray is the better player. He has beaten the top players more often, gets to the latter stages of slams consistently and has more titles so I'd say he is considerably more likely.

He has had a good year, but i'm not sure he can consistently reach the latter stages like Murray can.

He gets harder draws though.

time please wrote:I love watching Tsonga, and he is a real danger and fun to watch when on form, but he is just horribly inconsistent.

Also think he could do with getting a little fitter - I know he has a powerful build naturally, but I think a few pounds shed wouldn't hurt at all.

I've always thought the same. Just checked figures on ATP website and calculated his BMI index. Underweight is <18.5. Normal 18.5 - 24.9. Overweight is 25-29.5. Tsonga at 6' 2" (188cm) and 200lbs (91kg) has a BMI of 25.7. Overweight. I also think he looks a bit heavier lately so wonder how acurate those figures are.

A lot of athletes have a high BMI due to higher than average muscle mass though. I haven't studied him lately, has he got flab or is it all muscle??

hawkeye wrote:

time please wrote:I love watching Tsonga, and he is a real danger and fun to watch when on form, but he is just horribly inconsistent.

Also think he could do with getting a little fitter - I know he has a powerful build naturally, but I think a few pounds shed wouldn't hurt at all.

I've always thought the same. Just checked figures on ATP website and calculated his BMI index. Underweight is <18.5. Normal 18.5 - 24.9. Overweight is 25-29.5. Tsonga at 6' 2" (188cm) and 200lbs (91kg) has a BMI of 25.7. Overweight. I also think he looks a bit heavier lately so wonder how acurate those figures are.

The numbers on the ATP website should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not regularly updated. Based on his court speed and net play, he seems fairly quick.

BMI isn't the best measure of health or fitness anyway as it doesn't take into account muscle mass. Percentage fat is a much better measure.

I was thinking after his match with federer at wimbledon its probably going to be another 3 years before he plays this well again I mean the time before that was against Nadal at the Australian open in 2008.

laverfan wrote:

hawkeye wrote:

time please wrote:I love watching Tsonga, and he is a real danger and fun to watch when on form, but he is just horribly inconsistent.

Also think he could do with getting a little fitter - I know he has a powerful build naturally, but I think a few pounds shed wouldn't hurt at all.

I've always thought the same. Just checked figures on ATP website and calculated his BMI index. Underweight is <18.5. Normal 18.5 - 24.9. Overweight is 25-29.5. Tsonga at 6' 2" (188cm) and 200lbs (91kg) has a BMI of 25.7. Overweight. I also think he looks a bit heavier lately so wonder how acurate those figures are.

The numbers on the ATP website should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not regularly updated. Based on his court speed and net play, he seems fairly quick.

Do you think he is lighter than 91kg? I thought maybe he was heavier.

Hard to judge based on television pictures. He does look 'lighter' compared to his pre-injury days.

laverfan. It is hard to judge. Tried to find similar photos from 2008 and 2011

Tsonga 2008

http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/jo-wilfried_tsonga_2051963

Tsonga 2011

http://www2.tennisserver.com/images/photofeed/2011/us_open/110908/Federer_Tsonga/Federer_Tsonga-1.jpg

I think he looks chunkier in 2011. What do you think?

He's lean these days. His build is really unusual, massive rib cage, barrel chest type of thing.

I think he's in with a chance to win a GS.

OK, so Soderling, Berdych and Tsonga have all beaten Federer in grand slams and have all in those moments looked very dangerous. Does Tsonga have anything those two don't (since not many people would offer their names as likely winners)? To me he looks much more talented, much more fluid with equally powerful groundstrokes, and with a better serve.

People keep reiterating that a GS is Murray's to win if he can sort out the mental aspect of his game. I would be more inclined to say that that statement applies to Tsonga as the ease of his game, when it's on, shows he has enormous talent.

droogle wrote:I think he's in with a chance to win a GS.

OK, so Soderling, Berdych and Tsonga have all beaten Federer in grand slams and have all in those moments looked very dangerous. Does Tsonga have anything those two don't (since not many people would offer their names as likely winners)? To me he looks much more talented, much more fluid with equally powerful groundstrokes, and with a better serve.

Soderling has a lone win@FO, but not much else, some close matches though.

Berdych had no wins between 2005-2010 till the W QF.

Tsonga on a good day is dangerous to anyone, he still has a 5-4 h2h (prior to Djokovic 2.0 circa 2011).

droogle wrote:People keep reiterating that a GS is Murray's to win if he can sort out the mental aspect of his game. I would be more inclined to say that that statement applies to Tsonga as the ease of his game, when it's on, shows he has enormous talent.

Gasquet also has enormous talent, but Tsonga is perhaps a much harder worker than Gasquet. . Also, he lacks a coach, and despite that has played really well in 2011.

Some amazing net play here that he is capable of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO6lalt5f6M

I don't trust Tsonga to win the really vital games sometimes. Today, even though he eventually won, to lose the second set from 4-1 isn't great. Saying that, he's seems a genuinely good guy, and someone I want to do well, and it would be nice to see him win one.

Only thing Tsonga is missing for me is his questionable body weight, if he loses a few lbs then he has everything in his repertoir to win 2 or 3 majors.