Tearful Tsonga says upbringing spurred him to Paris win

As a little boy, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was taught to finish off everything on his plate and he did just that when he won the Paris Masters on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, who beat Argentine David Nalbandian 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the final in front of a jubilant home crowd, started sobbing after clinching victory and the tears kept rolling during his post-match news conference.

"My parents taught me not to complain, to always go forward," the son of two teachers said.

"They taught me to always finish what I had on my plate. It seems ridiculous but these are little things that in the end make you stronger."

Born in Le Mans, western France, Tsonga has mixed heritage having a French mother, Evelyne, and a Congolese father, Didier, who moved to France in the 1970's to play handball.

Tsonga, who saved eight break points against Nalbandian, started his tournament with little appetite but eventually had a feast.

"I was hurting everywhere but I told myself that I had to give it all as I had the chance to play this Masters Series," said the Australian Open runner-up.

"Two years ago, I was 250th in the world and loafing around in the minor tournaments."

MIXED HERITAGE

Tsonga admitted the partisan crowd played a big part in helping him to subdue defending champion Nalbandian.

"I played with 15,000 thousand people today, sometimes they were so loud I was almost losing my focus," said Tsonga, who beat world number three Novak Djokovic and Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake en route to the title.

Having been sidelined for three months earlier this year with a knee injury, Tsonga said his mixed heritage helped him to believe in himself in Paris this week.

"I've got a bit of the eccentricity of Africa and a bit of Western calm," he said.

"I love being able to pass from a feeling of euphoria to one of calm and serenity.

"I have both origins running through my blood. Sometimes, when I look at my mother, I can think 'well, you are on the court, stay calm, pick yourself up and go ahead."

Tsonga, who climb to seventh in the world when the new ATP standings are published on Monday, will now head to Shanghai to play in the Masters Cup.

"I'm going to go there to represent France and all my family and my friends," he said.

"I'm going to represent everyone and do my best."