Former 6th world player, who fell today in 158th, the French (37 years old) spent two towers in Paris before falling Saturday against Croatian Marin Cilic.
By (with AFP)
“You have your money when you see Gilles Simon playing!” The compliment is signed by Roland-Garros. On the central court of the Parisian tournament, Saturday May 28, Marc Maury specifies at the microphone that the interested party has played since the start of his career 14 Grand Slam games of more than 4:30 am a statistic which sums up the character Gilles Simon well , a player who often makes the pleasure last on the court.
Four days after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, another “musketeer” said goodbye to Roland-Garros on the court Philippe-Chatrier. After listening to the “Gilou” chanted by the spectators, Gilles Simon received an honorary trophy under the acclamations of the public. Unlike the Manceau, the Niçois will continue his career until the end of the year.
His expeditious defeat against Croatian Marin Cilic (6-0, 6-3, 6-2) in the third round of the tournament did not overshadow the two previous victories, against the Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta and the American Steve Johnson (his 500 e on the ATP circuit). Fallen at 158
“I had the chance to play my best tennis in the first round … which had not been there for a while anyway. It was unexpected, recognized the French at the end of the game, before greeting His opponent of the day. Marin, he is someone who is very discreet, but he is really a huge champion. If it had to stop today, I would have been super happy that it stops against him Because we have [played] great games. “
renowned for his science of the game
went up to sixth in the world in January 2009, winner of 14 single tournaments and the Davis Cup with the French team in 2017, the one who is recognized by his peers for his science of the game never exceeded the Stage from the knockout stages to the door of Auteuil.
“I have done good and less good things on the field. Good things date a little … My children doubt that I was able to play tennis. I am happy they saw that. I I am happy to have left them this memory, “he rejoiced at the end of the match by turning to his family present in the lodges.
Not the best server on the circuit, but not the last to serve humor in an interview, Mr. Simon then made the stands laugh while evoking his physical condition after twenty years of professional career: “It’s a lot of work, but also a lot of suffering. I am at three Voltaren and six doliprane before the match. There is only morphine left and after … “
After turning the page of his seventeenth and last Roland, the future retiree from the courts has promised to give “everything [him] remains” by the end of the year. Before definitively put away the snowshoes.