Tsonga reflects on facing Djokovic in first of 21 Grand Slam wins at 2008 Australian Open in essay: "My whole career I've been asking myself why did I lose that final"

Novak Djokovic won his first Australian Open by beating Jo-Wiflreid Tsonga in the final and the French player remembered that final for in an essay for Eurosport.

Djokovic played Roger Federer in the 2008 Australian Open semi-final and bested him to secure the final. Meanwhile, Tsonga defeated Nadal and they met in the final which Djokovic ultimately won. Tsonga meanwhile retired while Djokovic will contest his 10th Australian Open final in a few days.

Writing for Eurosport, Tsonga remembered the final:

"This final served me well and helped me. The match, the experience. After that, I'm going to win the Masters 1000 in Bercy at the end of the year. The problem is that I really analysed this final the proper way too late. They tell you it's the technical, physical, mental side. But by analysing every point, hearing things from the outside, you end up getting bogged down."

He continued:

"Sometimes things are much simpler than that. My whole career I've been asking myself why. Why did I lose that final when I beat him five times (four) in a row after that? What happened? You never stop thinking. You try, you fall down, you get up, you move on, it's part of a player's career. So this final is part of mine."