The haircut may have changed but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s winning smile remains as dazzling as ever as he prepares for the 2018 Australian Open, a decade on from his breakout run to the final.
Having nixed his early-season plans to recover from a wrist injury, the Frenchman was one of the early arrivals in Melbourne, and among the first players to check out the new state-of-the-art facilities installed as part of the latest redevelopment at Melbourne Park.
“When I played 10 years ago it was already something unbelievable for me, but it’s changed a lot,” Tsonga admits. “Every year it’s different, every year the facilities are great, and every year they improve a lot – it’s just fantastic for us to play tennis in these kind of facilities.
While some redevelopment projects are set for completion in 2019, the revamped player hub beneath Rod Laver Arena is complete. Among the fresh features: a new undercover transport access that drops competitors within a few steps of their upgraded locker rooms, chill-out areas and a quiet room for players to relax, new restaurants with a variety of international cuisine, a beauty bar and salon, and a concierge service and even in-house musicians and artists-in-residence once the tournament is up and running.
“When we came at the start everybody was working here and it was tough to recognise the stadium because it’s changed a lot. But I’ve got used to it, and in a few days I will be able to find my way,” joked the 32-year-old.
Currently ranked No.15 in the world, Tsonga was in good spirits in spite of his early injury setback, already practising at Melbourne Park and looking forward to one of his favourite stops of the year.
“I feel great,” said the Frenchman. “I had a good season in 2017 – we were Davis Cup champions and I won a few tournaments. I hope 2018 is going to be great, and going to start well with a good Australian Open. I feel at home here. The crowd is unbelievable with me – they always cheer for me like if I’m in France, and that’s something special.”
Tsonga joined Tournament Director Craig Tiley and Acting Sports Minister Philip Dalidakis to survey the new-look Melbourne Park, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary as home to the Australian Open in 2018.
“The tournament is not just about tennis any more – it has become an event in its own right, an opportunity for people to come and enjoy not just the tennis that’s on show of course, but a myriad of other activities,” Dalidakis said. “And this year I praise Craig and all of the staff that we now have a children’s arena that is four times bigger than it was in 2017.”
“When you look around you see a lot of construction,” Tiley added. “But we’re really excited. Ticket sales in every category are ahead of where they were the same time last year; it’s going to be an unbelievable event. I think the weather forecast looks pretty good, so we’re excited about what the next three weeks are going to hold.”
And as the facilities at Melbourne Park improve, so do the prospects of a successful Australian Open for the Aussies, with stunning performances from the nation’s leading players in Perth and Brisbane.
“We just finished last night with a record-breaking Hopman Cup,” Tiley continued. “Tom [Larner] and his team have put on a magnificent event there, and Roger Federer’s comments said it all. Then of course, there’s the Brisbane International. The women’s final was last night, and today the men’s final with Nick Kyrgios. And of course, Alex De Minaur – an 18-year-old getting all the way to the semifinals.
“So we’re excited about the future prospects of Australian players. People have been asking for a few years now – I think we’re at that cusp of the younger players about to break through, and seeing Nick do what he does is pretty exciting.”