NY Times: A Young French Quartet Is on the March at the Open

A Young French Quartet Is on the March at the Open

By JOSHUA ROBINSON
Published: September 5, 2009


Away from the constant commotion of the United States Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga likes to spend his evenings at a kitschy French bistro in Midtown Manhattan called Tout Va Bien, French for all is well.

And with a spot booked in the third round of the Open, Tsonga can hardly complain about the way the tournament is going for him. Neither can some of his favorite dinner companions, Gaël Monfils, Gilles Simon and Josselin Ouanna. Monfils and Simon are in the third round, too.

The four make up perhaps the most talented crop of French players in a long time. All younger than 25, they are prompting chatter about the first Grand Slam title for a Frenchman since Yannick Noah won at Roland Garros in 1983.

“You have to go back to Noah, Henri Leconte and Thierry Tulasne in the 1980s for a generation like this one,” said Cédric Pioline, the former French No. 1, who is currently in charge of elite men’s development at the French Tennis Federation. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/sports/tennis/06french.html?ref=tennis