Tsonga learns from coach’s passion
Twelve months ago, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sat alone inside Roland Garros’ Court Philippe Chatrier having squandered a two-set lead and four match points to Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals.
Fast forward to June 2013 and Tsonga is flashing that famous smile after a ruthless straight-sets demolition of Roger Federer to reach the semi-finals for the first time at his home Grand Slam.
But this time he was not alone. He was rejoicing in his decision to hire Australian Roger Rasheed as coach with the brief of taking the talented, if unpredictable, Tsonga to a major title after a series of near-misses.
The 44-year-old Rasheed, a former Australian Rules footballer, was a journeyman tennis pro who proved his coaching credentials with Lleyton Hewitt from 2003 to 2007 and then Tsonga’s compatriot, Gael Monfils, from 2008 till 2011.
“I chose to take Roger because I knew this guy was able to give me the passion for the game and to give me his passion for it,” explained Tsonga.
Tsonga, who will be playing in his fifth Grand Slam semi-final when he takes on Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer on Friday, is looking to make his second final at a major following his runner-up finish to Djokovic in Australia in 2008.
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