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He is the last French player to win the Paris Masters title almost 20 years ago

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remains the last French player to claim the Paris Masters title, a distinction that has stood for nearly two decades. The 2008 victory came during one of Tsonga’s most remarkable seasons, where he first reached the Australian Open final as a teenager, falling just short to Novak Djokovic before turning his focus to Paris.

Seeded 13th, Tsonga defied expectations by defeating top-ranked opponents—including Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and James Blake—before overcoming David Nalbandian in a hard-fought final (6-3, 4-6, 6-4). His triumph was all the more impressive given his injuries, which he battled throughout the tournament, yet somehow overcame to secure the crown in front of his home crowd.

Since Tsonga’s win, no Frenchman has repeated the feat, despite Gael Monfils and Tsonga himself reaching finals in subsequent years. Monfils lost to Djokovic in 2009 and Robin Söderling in 2010, while Tsonga fell to Roger Federer in 2011, ending his bid for a second title.

The 2008 Paris Masters remains a defining moment for French tennis, a lone bright spot in a tournament where French players have struggled to replicate success in recent history.

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