Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga plays in
Winston-Salem
Open
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
FOR THE CHRONICLE
In his 12 years on the
pro tennis circuit, Jo
Wilfried Tsonga of France
has become one of the
game's most recognizable
personalities. He made a
name for himself in 2008
when he reached the finals
of the Australian Open as
an unseeded player.
As a pro, Tsonga has
won 11 tournament titles in
singles. In the process, he's
proven himself as a world
class elite. For the last
seven years, he's ranked
among the Top 15 in the
world (ATP). During that
stretch, he was in the Top
10 five times, which
includes a career-high No.
5 ranking in 2012. Tsonga's
career earnings total over
$15.3 million in singles
and doubles.
During last week's
Winston-Salem Open
(WSO), Tsonga's star
power was put on full dis
play. After winning his
first-round match against
Denis Istomin, he stood at
center court and hit tennis
balls into the stands for
fans to collect as souvenirs.
While walking back the
locker room after that
match, he was besieged by
a throng of well-wishers
who wanted pictures and
autographs and he happily
obliged.
Seeded third at the
WSO, Tsonga was elimi
nated in the third round by
Steve Johnson, who
advanced to the semifinals.
Earlier this week, Tsonga
was matched up against
Jarkko Nieminen of
Finland in the first round of
the U.S. Open.
When healthy, Tsonga,
19th in the world rankings
last week, is formidable.
Standing 6-feet-2 and
weighing 200 pounds, he's
at his best when his serve
(130 mph) is right.
Tsonga's booming fore
hand is equally impressive.
He was a semifinalist in
this year's French Open.
Tsonga, whose father is
African (Congo) and
whose mother is French, is
one of the few active play
ers who have advanced to
the quarterfinals of all four
Grand Slam events (French
Open, Australian Open,
Wimbledon and U.S.
Open) during his career.
Plus, he's one of only
three players to register
Grand Slam victories
against the top four men's
players - Roger Federer,
Rafael Nadal, Novak
Djokovic and Andy
Murray.
In the aftermath of his
early-round victory, Tsonga
granted this interview with
SportsWeek.
SW: In making the
decision to play in the
Winston-Salem Open, did
you view the tournament as
a means to prepare for the
U.S. Open which is sched
uled the following week?
Tsonga: I didn't come to
play in this tournament to
help me prepare for the
next week. I came because
I was looking to play some
good tennis and move up in
the (world) rankings. I'm
looking to get back in the
top 16, and possibly the top
eight.
SW: Prior to the
Winston-Salem tourna
ment, you had only played
in eight tournaments
because of an early-season
injury to your forearm. Do
you feel like you're begin
ning to get back on track?
Tsonga: Since I haven't
played that much, my game
feels fresh and I'm not
worn out. But on the other
hand, it's always tough to
come back after being out
for a period of time. It's like
I have to start all over again
from the bottom and work
my way back to the level I
was at before being injured.
SW: It seems that you
tend to struggle in your
first-day matches. But in
most cases, you're still able
to win and advance in the
rounds. How do you man
age to play well enough to
win when you're not at the
top of your game?
Tsonga: In tourna
ments, I usually play better
and better with each match.
It's always been like that
with me. I've never played
really well on my first day
of competition. As I play
more matches, I get more
accustomed to the playing
surface, which is always a
big factor in how well I
perform.
SW: You recently cele
brated your 30th birthday.
How much longer do you
plan to compete on the pro
circuit?
Tsonga: The fact that
I'm still around proves that
I still believe in myself and
my ability to play at the
highest level. I'll ketp
going until I feel like it's
time for me to stop.
SW: Regardless of
what city or country you
play in, there's no denying
that you're the crowd
favorite. How does it feel
to be so well received in
your travels?
Tsonga: I don't know
what it is that 1 do that
causes me to get such
warm welcomes. I play all
over the world and that's
what happens everywhere I
go. I'm very pleased with
that because it means that
people think a lot of me.
City receives donation to improve local tennis clubs during
Winston-Salem Open event
BYTEV1N STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, a number of
children from Forsyth County participated
in the Emirates "Returns" Tennis Clinic at
the Wake Forest Indoor Tennis Complex.
The clinic was designed to teach chil
dren the basic skills of tennis, including
the important skill of being able to return
the ball.
Emirates "Returns" is part of the
Emirates Airlines US Open Series, a series
of tennis tournaments held in different
cities across the nation.
While partnering with the USTA
(United States Tennis Association)
Foundation, the Emirates Airlines US
Open Series makes charitable donations to
each host city. The donations to each city
include educational programming, tennis
equipment and facility improvements.
During this year's clinic, the city
received a cash donation of $5,000 and
$5,000 in equipment.
The cash donation will be used to
organize tennis tournaments and clinics at
the different tennis clubs in Winston
Salem.
Tamer Hegazy, director of tennis at the
Wake Forest Tennis Complex, said he has
really seen the sport of tennis grow over
the years.
"The city does a good job of setting up
tournaments and clinics at the different
clubs in the area."
The Wake Forest Tennis Complex was
built in 1997 and is home to the Demon
Deacons men's and women's tennis pro
grams. According to Hegazy, the complex
also offers local memberships and is open
to the local community.
During the summer months, the com
plex offers a number of programs and clin
ics for children.
"During our summer camps, we have
over 200 participants each year," said
Hegazy. "We have also been able to give
scholarships to a number of participants."
The complex also offers a number of
scholarships to deserving camp and clinic
participants through a partnership with the
North Carolina Tennis Association.
Hegazy said youth participation in the
sport has really grown.
."I've been here for 13 years" said
Hegazy. "It's good to see that the youth in
the area are becoming more interested in
tennis."
The Wake Forest Indoor Tennis
Complex is located at 100 W. 32nd St. For
more information on the complex, visit
www.wfuitc.com
WSSU Rams announce hiring of Brion Dunlap
SPECIAL TO THE
CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem
State University men's bas
ketball program has
announced the hiring of
Brion Dunlap as an assis
tant coach for the Rams for
the upcoming 2015-16 sea
son.
Brion Dunlap will join
the Winston-Salem State
University men's basket
ball coaching staff after
previously spending the
past five seasons as an
assistant coach at the
College of the Holy Cross.
"Brion Dunlap is an
extremely well-rounded
coach with recruiting con
tacts all over the country",
says WSSU head coach
James Wilhelmi. "His
experiences as a Division I
player at Old Dominion, a
high school coach and as a
division one assistant
coach make him a rising
star in the coaching busi
ness and a valuable asset to
our program. We are very
fortunate to have him join
the WSSU Ram family",
added Wilhelmi.
He helped the
Crusaders to an overall
record of 34-30 the last two
seasons, and in the 2013-14
season. Holy Cross fin
ished with a 20-14 record.
good for their first 20-win
season since 2006-2007.
Holy Cross also placed
third in the Patriot League
with a 12-6 mark in confer
ence .games, and received
an invitation to the
CollegeInsider.com
Tournament. Holy Cross'
68-65 victory at Brown in
the first round of the 2014
CIT was its first in a
national postseason tourna
ment since 2004-2005.
Overall, Dunlap helped
the Crusaders to three fin
ishes in the top half of the
Patriot League standings in
five seasons. Holy Cross
placed third in the confer
ence in both 2010-2011
and 2013-2014, and fourth
in 2011-2012.
Dunlap came to Holy
Cross after serving as an
assistant coach at Mount
St. Mary's University for
the previous seven years.
In 2008, the Mountaineers
won the Northeast
Conference Tournament
title and posted the first
NCAA Division I
Tournament victory in
school history, with a 69-60
win over Coppin State in
the opening round.
. Dunlap is a 1998 grad
uate of Old Dominion
University with a bache
lor's degree in human serv
ices counseling. He was a
four-year starter for the
Monarchs on the hard
wood, helping lead the
team to two NCAA
Tournament appearances
and two Colonial Athletic
Association titles. Dunlap
was named to the CAA All
Rookie team in 1995 and
the CAA All-Tournament
team in 1997.
I