Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tour de Spanish Riding School – Tennis News
Top seed at the Erste Bank Open 2011, French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga visited the traditional Spanish Ridding School in Vienna, Austria on Friday morning. He attended the morning practice there and experienced something which he never
dreamt of.
26-year-old Frenchman displayed exceptional skills on the on-going ATP World Tour 250 series event he has participated. He was a set down when he bounced back and registered a 3-6, 6-1, 3-1 victory over the injured Jarkko Nieminen
on Thursday. Tsonga lost an early serve in the opening set but handed a breadstick to equalise. He was leading 3-1 when the Finn felt severe pain on his right hip and was forced to retire.
"It's the end of a long season and everyone is tired," said the blissful Tsonga. "This win is good for me because I will earn some points and, hopefully, make the finals (in London)."
The highly positive Tsonga attended the morning session at Vienna’s Imperial Hofburg Palace, the Frenchman visited Lipizzan, Europe’s oldest breed of horses with origins dating back to the sixteenth century, stallions in the stables.
"It was something really special to see all the horses," said the excited Frenchman. "It was a very nice visit for me, beautiful and relaxed. I was impressed...I like animals but I don't have the time for a pet at the moment, and
especially not for a horse! But I love animals and hope I will have some after my career," stated Tsonga further.
The Spanish Riding School is the world’s oldest institution that cultivates classical equitation and has practiced for over four centuries in the Renaissance tradition of the haute ecole. Not only this, it is the only riding school
which does this and is a tourist attraction in Vienna that offers public performances as well as permitting public viewing of few training sessions.
The presentation on the other hand is build up from centuries of experience and tradition in classical dressage. Furthermore, the leading riders and horses of the institution are moved around the world in timely bases and they
perform worldwide.
Ranked 9th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, Tsonga locked horns with Belgian Xavier Malisse on Friday afternoon. He lost to the Belgian earlier this season at Indian Wells but after overpowering
him in a three setter nail biter match this time around, Tsonga not only avenged his loss but also levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against Malisse.
Along with eyeing for his second ATP title this season, the Frenchman is bidding for a spot in the Barclays ATP World Tour finals.
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