Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will turn 32 in April, an age that over the years is even more common on the ATP Tour. However the French tennis player thinks his retirement from tennis is nearer.
'I played for how many years, 13? I know that's the end', the world no. 14 said in press conference in Rotterdam after beating Marin Cilic. 'I have a few years left to play. I knew it was not going to be forever.'
Best time for the Le Mans native are probably behind him. World no. 5 in 2012, Tsonga, who always suffers an injury every season, aims to raise in the ATP Rankings: 'To be into the top-eight, because you're a bit protected when you play the big tournaments. That's important. I don't care if I'm 11th or ninth, or whatever. But if I'm eighth it's different.'
What will he do once he will end his tennis career? 'I'm curious. I'll do many things. Tennis will always take a part in my life. That's what I do best.'
Also another 31-year-old Tomas Berdych thinks that he won't be one of the tennis players with long professional life like Roger Federer: 'It's beautiful to see Roger playing until he is 35, 38 but it doesn't mean that it will be the same thing for me as well. He can't be an example, there are not many players who can do the things he does.'
'I'm at the end of my career, I've been playing for many years'
'I played for how many years, 13? I know that's the end', the world no. 14 said in press conference in Rotterdam after beating Marin Cilic. 'I have a few years left to play. I knew it was not going to be forever.'
Best time for the Le Mans native are probably behind him. World no. 5 in 2012, Tsonga, who always suffers an injury every season, aims to raise in the ATP Rankings: 'To be into the top-eight, because you're a bit protected when you play the big tournaments. That's important. I don't care if I'm 11th or ninth, or whatever. But if I'm eighth it's different.'
What will he do once he will end his tennis career? 'I'm curious. I'll do many things. Tennis will always take a part in my life. That's what I do best.'
Also another 31-year-old Tomas Berdych thinks that he won't be one of the tennis players with long professional life like Roger Federer: 'It's beautiful to see Roger playing until he is 35, 38 but it doesn't mean that it will be the same thing for me as well. He can't be an example, there are not many players who can do the things he does.'