Opposed to the former world number one Andy Murray, the French, beneficiary of an invitation, disputes Monday evening (from 7:30 p.m.), perhaps, the last match of his career.
At the Accor Arena,
Well, it’s almost over. Gilles Simon faces this Monday at 7:30 p.m. Andy Murray for the last tournament of his career, at Paris-Bercy. In our columns, the soon-to-be retired confided how he had notably managed to annoy the two legends Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer throughout his career, despite confrontations largely against him (2-7 against Federer and 1-11 against Djokovic) . Faced with Andy Murray, the fourth member of the famous Big Four, now 49th in the world, “Professor” Simon has often taken the lesson. The two men have faced each other 18 times and the Niçois has only won twice. “Each opponent has their pros and cons. Andy is a difficult player to play, especially for me. I never really liked his game, it was always difficult. Now, as always, I still beat him twice. I cling to that, I tell myself that I can always do it. I was also able to worry him several times, matches where I served for the match, some hung especially on the last confrontations. It’s been a while since we played (Editor’s note: Their last duel dates from 2016, in Vienna with a victory in three sets for the Scot). I will try to concentrate, play well, move well.It will take a great game to beat him. My logic does not change, I will play the match to win it. There may be only one match or several, we’ll see. At Roland Garros (3e tour), it had been a very good surprise, it had gone well. I hope to be able to do the same here.»
I know it’s going to be hard on the pitch, it’s going to be hard to focus on just playing.
Gilles Simon
And before, perhaps, the last match of his career, Simon did not hide a certain nervousness, he who confided to us, already his fears, a few days ago. “This generates more stress than usual. In any case, at home, that’s always how it worked, whether at Roland-Garros, in the Davis Cup, anywhere. There are games where naturally more things happen. I know it’s going to be hard on the pitch, it’s going to be hard to focus on just playing. So, I think that my state, right now, rather reflects that. ” The former world number 6, with a particularly taken voice, approaches his last tournament in an uncertain physical form: “I got sick after my first round (in Brest editor’s note) last week. I played on Thursday, I was playing very well, but I was coughing at every point. It was really not pleasant. I started to feel my back hurting me. I had a very complicated night behind too. I said to myself that if I went back there on Friday in the quarter-finals in the same state, it might make things worse. Afterwards, it’s been quite a few years now that in each match, each tournament, each objective, there is this fear of not being able to appear due to a physical problem. I know it, and it does not change for this tournament».
If he wins, that’s fantastic. If it ever stops, that’s wonderful too.
Cédric Pioline
Tournament director Cédric Pioline has confirmed that a ceremony will take place in tribute to the 37-year-old’s fine career with 14 titles on the circuit: «I think it’s great that he can somehow choose the time and place where he will end this great career. The Federation, like the Tournament Management, fully agrees that honoring our great champions is important. It’s been there for at least 15 years. The draw has made him have a prestigious opponent in front of him. If he wins, that’s fantastic. If it ever stops, that’s wonderful too. There will be a ceremony, finally something that will honor this moment. He can speak. I imagine many of his relatives will be there.»