Didier Tsonga Talks About His "Ali"
Monday, January 28, 2008
Whether being called "Big Jo", "le mome" (which translates as "the kid"), or "Ali" because of his resemblance to the former boxing champ, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is having to answer everybody. He is the hottest ticket in France with everyone still amazed at his magnificent performance ascending to the final of the 2008 Australian Open.
Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win a major title, described his straight-sets mauling of world No.2 Rafael Nadal as "beautiful".
Nicolas Escude, the last Frenchman to play a match of such significance at Melbourne Park, when he anchored France's 2001 Davis Cup triumph, said Tsonga had "walked on water......It is one of the most enormous things I have ever seen. He made Nadal look like a little boy with no clue."
With all that is being said, it is Didier Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried's father, who has not only a very interesting story of his own, but very endearing words for his son.
"It is somewhat odd," Didier said of the fact he wrestled his way close to ringside to see Ali fight 33 years ago and now has a son who is likened to the great champion, albeit in a very different sport.
"It's not just the physical resemblance and his physique, but it's his temperament and the way he handles himself on court, he's a showman, he likes the crowd. It's a great honour that he is compared with Ali."
Didier joked, however, any similarity is pure coincidence.
"We see the resemblance, but he has no parental link with Muhammad Ali," he said after his son's defeat.
As a 20-year-old in Congo's steamy capital Brazzaville, the lure of seeing Ali and Foreman fight for the heavyweight title of the world only a couple of kilometres across the river in Kinshasa was irresistible, so Didier crossed the Zaire River on a leaky ferry.
"Everybody was crossing the river to see the fight," Didier said. "I got very close to the ring and could see Ali."
Didier joked, however, any similarity is pure coincidence.
"We see the resemblance, but he has no parental link with Muhammad Ali," he said after his son's defeat.
Tsonga's manager, Morgan Menaham, said he was working on trying to arrange a meeting with Ali.
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