At Wimbledon,
After Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon in 2022, it’s Jérémy Chardy’s turn to hang up the rackets. The Palois, fallen to the 534th at the ATP, logically suffered the law of the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, this Tuesday under the roof of the Center Court. Winner of the Davis Cup with the French team in 2017, winner of a title in Stuttgart in 2009, regular in the Grand Slam, since he reached the second week of the four Major tournaments, with his best result a quarter-final at the 2013 Australian Open, the former 25th in the world left the stage without regret after 18 years of career.
My percentage chances of beating him were very low (smiles). I was able to realize his level of play. It was the first time that I faced him. He moves very fast. He plays very fast. He takes the ball very early. Even at my best my chances would have been slim. I’m happy to have finished against him. I am relieved to have been able to upset him a little in the third because if I had played like during a set and a half where he walked around me, I would have had a bitter taste not to have taken pleasure at all for my last game. On the third I made good shots and I had a break in advance. It’s a reward to finish on a big court against the world number one. I could have finished on a small court against a much more modest player.
He is always super calm. He manages to manage emotions well. He can do anything. He has a great touch. He has everything to win many Grand Slams. He’s going to be hard to beat in the years to come. I didn’t think he took the ball so early. It would be interesting to see him in the final against Djokovic, he never wants to back down, especially on this surface.
All my family and friends were there today. It was a special moment. Before entering the court, I felt good but when I started the match, I was a little lost, overtaken by my emotions. I could no longer serve. I did, I don’t know how many double faults. I was really tense. But I managed to free myself and took advantage of the second part of the match. And the public was nice to me. The ovation warmed my heart. I turned my head. I saw my wife and my son. It made me cry. I was happy to share this moment with them.
It’s a well-considered choice. I wanted to come back in a decent state with that knee injury. It’s not a small death. I went all the way. I knew that physically I could not return to my best level. It’s hard to play tennis without a goal. It was hard going up to join you at a press conference (laughs). I played with the pain again. And tomorrow it’s going to be a bit complicated.
I wanted to finish my career on the courts. I would have liked to play Roland-Garros but I couldn’t play on clay anymore because of my knee pain. I prepared to play on grass and did six weeks of preparation before Wimbledon. I won the Juniors in 2005. It was an important victory to launch my professional career well. It allowed me to win contracts. My family did not have the means to pay for me a structure. I managed to sign good contracts to go on the circuit.
The round of 16 at Roland-Garros in 2008 which allowed me to enter the 100. The quarter at the Australian Open and the good times in the Davis Cup. I liked life on the circuit. I met lots of people. I enjoyed this life. I’m proud of the investment I’ve made in my career. I made mistakes. But I don’t regret anything. I managed to stay several seasons in the top 50 and I managed to qualify in the second weeks of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
It was an advantage because it pulled me up to progress to play in the same period as them. But it’s true that I would have been number one in France if I was playing now (smiles), whereas even when I was 25th in the world, I was at best the fourth best ranked. I think it could have been better. It was a good period for French tennis. I became friends with Jo and Gilles in particular. We had a small hole. You have to have French players in the second week of the Grand Slams. I have high hopes with the new generation.
The staffs have evolved. I started with one coach. Today the players have a staff of 10 people. Everyone is better prepared. The physical level has evolved. Young people play fast but they think less about tactics. They are above all in the explosiveness. This is also why Novak always manages to find solutions against them thanks to his incredible knowledge of the game. He finds the solutions to beat them in five sets. The surfaces have also evolved and are slower. Heavier bullets. It’s complicated to make effect changes.
I started working with Ugo Humbert several months ago. We will continue together. We also play doubles together. I wanted to play with him because doubles can allow him to progress for his singles career.