At the start of 2023, there will only be two left… After Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will put away his rackets at the end of Roland-Garros, Gilles Simon will hang up his tennis player outfit at the end of the year. The former world number 6, 37, hinted as much in a humorous tweet in response to Tsonga’s announcement. “I’m coming, buddy,” he said.
He confirmed it with a new message on social networks. “It was a magical, marvelous and extraordinary adventure, writes the winner of 14 singles titles on the ATP circuit, which he has frequented for twenty years. It will stop at the end of the year. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made it possible. There is no sadness, no regret. Just the will to put everything I have left. On every game, until the end. »
The native of Nice now points to 158th place in the world and has won only one meeting on the main circuit since the start of the year. In 2021, the semi-finalist of the Masters in 2008, father of two children, had long wondered about the follow-up to his career. Worn out by the Covid era, multiple PCR tests, behind-closed-doors tournaments, complicated trips or quarantines…
“My heart is no longer there at all to travel and play in these conditions, I am unfortunately forced to take a break in order to preserve myself mentally, he explained after the Australian Open 2021. Hoping that the morale come back as soon as possible. »
Gasquet should stop in 2022
Since 2005, Simon has played Roland-Garros sixteen times (for three round of 16). His participation in the big picture of the 2022 edition, his last, is subject to an invitation from the organizers. For the time being, the Habs are registered in the qualifications.
The band of four (Tsonga, Simon, Gasquet, Monfils) will therefore be reduced to a trickle. If Gaël Monfils has expressed his desire to continue until the age of 40 provided his physique allows it, Richard Gasquet will undoubtedly imitate his comrades next year, depending on the evolution of his ranking and the possibility of competing. or not the Grand Slam tournaments. A big chapter in the history of French tennis is turning, and all the pages are flying at the same time.