With a new coach in his corner, French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga heads into a new year believing his maiden Grand Slam title is within reach. Ranked eighth in the world, the flamboyant Tsonga finds his path to Grand Slam glory blocked by three of the best players of all time in Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, as well as US Open champion Andy Murray.

It is an imposing quartet to overcome for a title the 27-year-old, an Australian Open finalist in 2008 and a semi-finalist at three other Grand Slams, desperately craves. Speaking in Perth as he prepared for the Hopman Cup, where Djokovic is one of his rivals in the $1-million mixed teams tournament, Tsonga admitted the road to his first major title was a tough one.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012