Gilles Simon Vs Novak Djokovic.
Simon seems like a laidback player, no animation or
agitation on his face or in his body language.
But it is deceptive indeed like Feliciano Lopez who we feel is getting
ready for a stroll in the park.
Let’s not deviate though.
I am betting Djokovic will win in 4 sets. He will lose a set because of his failure to read Simon right and also because he will try adventurous shots which won’t work. Now I hope that Gilles does not run out of
steam because Novak certainly won’t. We have had the longest rally of the match and we are barely in the seventh game of the match
with the rally ending when Djokovic hits a lob long. Simon is patient, Djokovic is able and
willing to laugh at himself and at the situation. This is what helps him precisely in tough
situations when he is about to be broken.
8th game of the 1st set and a double
fault from Simon. Simon got a forehand down the line and Djokovic got a deep
cross court angle pressuring Simon to commit an unforced error by hitting a wide
down the line forehand. Djokovic has
broken Simon again and at 5-3 is serving for the match. Please count on Simon to break back.
9th game- 10.26am- Please count on Simon to break back. It is
40-30 at the moment. Can Simon equalise?
2nd serve for Novak. Yes and he does. A routine cross court forehand finds the line
wide. Novak is using a lot of sliced
backhands. Not letting the opponent settling
in to a pattern of baseline rallies.
Perhaps he thinks he can afford the unforced errors in a bid to try
something different. Now at deuce and Advantage Novak via an ace. And back to Deuce when he hits a backhand long.
At this point Novak has committed 8 unforced errors. And Advantage Novak when he Simon hits a forehand in the net. A down the T for Novak equalises the score at 40-40. Another long rally and Simon hits a forehand wide. It is advantage for Novak and Simon fritter the advantage by losing the game and the set. The first set has lasted 58 minutes. And I suspect the duration was lengthened by the change in Djokovic's game more than Simon Gilles' guile. 8 unforced errors, a heightened variation in the strokes, a greater mixing of shots. While I can question if its necessary, the other argument is why not?
2nd set, 1st game 10.34- 2unforced errors already by Novak in the first game of the second set. Simon closes the game by a spectacular down-the-line backhand as an answer to an unplayable down-the-forehand by Djokovic.
2nd game- 10.37- Will Djokovic switch back to a clinical game? 3rd unforced error as he nets a routine forehand. 30-15. Simon caught on the wrong foot as he rushes to the centre and Djokovic hits a backhand again. this after some unplayable shots by both the players. But then we know of Navak's ability to retrieve, restore, revive and then repeat the whole chain AND win!
its 1 game all.
3rd game. 10.40am. We are one hour and seven minutes into the match and its just the third game of the second set. 21 shot rally!
9th Game, 11.13 am- the deuce- advantage hide and seek continues, with Djokovic making unforced errors and employing the slice unsuccessfully at the unlikeliest points. Anyways Its back to deuce and Advantage Novak as another forehand from Simon finds the net. Now will Simon be able to equalise? Yes he ddoes as Novak commits another harakiri shot when he smashes only for Simon to return and then picks up a return to volley in then net. Unbelievable retun backhand volley for Simon to hold his serve. Novak is at the net to hit a crosscourt volley and then Gilles retrieves it to hit another crosscourt over the crouched Novak and it is 5-4 and Gilles is leading. Novak is serving to stay in the set, if imight say!
10th game, 11.19- it is 30 love
12th game and the the match is 1hour 56 minutes old. An ace from Novak and he holds his serve to hold at six games all. Tie Break- Novak loses the first point. On to SImon now. Can he make it 3-love? After another punishing rally, Novak decides to end it by slicing a drop shot and it is out! 2 love to Simon. Another furious trading of shots, back hand for backhad, corner for corner and then giving Djokovic a taste of his own medicine as the commentator puts it, from Simon and he is 3 love. 4 love, and 5 love as another drop shots sputters into the net. Finally a point for Nova. Will he be able to arrest he slide in this tie-break or will he make a clean break and start afresh in the 3rd set? Simon leading at 5-1 and yes, Gilles Simon win the tie break and the second set. Will Djokovic come back as usual and win the following sets? History says yes but history also gets made.
3rd set, 3rd game, 11.47- Djokovic breaks Simon and leads by 2 games to love. And like the previous sets, there is every chance that Simon will break him back, thanks to some nifty moving around the court and Novak's senseless slice shots. An ace fro Djokovic closes the 3rd set and now leads three games to love.
What have we learnt so far?
Djokovic is willing to experiment like a bartender does with cocktails. But a singlemalt just doesn't mix with a carbonated drink, though one cant say till one has tried it. So Novak has and a slice doesnt work if you can put away a shot by just hammering it back to a corner or right back at the oppoent's shoes. Will Novak play his natural game 3rd set onwards except of course for the unforced errors?
4th Game 11.51- Simon leads forty love. Now 40-30. Old or will get broken? Hold. Another sliced backhand from Djokovic lands in the gutter and Simon holds.
5th Game, 11.55- Djokovic serves, love 15. His shots are now accompanies by sound as well. A sign that some effort is involved. Love forty and Simon breaks Djokovic. He deserves the result. As I said, he has been running well, chasing down every ball, finding corners and hitting clean down-the-shots, waiting patiently at the baseline when needed and getting rewarded for his efforts.
6th Game, 11.58. Simon serving, thirty love, thirty all. two winning backhands in a row and Novak is back in the game. Deuece. Advantage Novak. 2 hours 29 minutes. Back to Deuce. and three games all.
7th game- The Serbian and the Frenchman are freely using the whole court. 40-30 for Novak. And....game Djokovic.
8th Game- thirty love, a cool down the line backhand and it is forty love. a terrific backhand retrieval by Simon and Djokovic is ready, alas the shot is too deep ffor Novak to volley and it is four games all.
9th Game- 12.14- love 15 after Novak challeges the umpire's overrule. The court is now vertically sliced by sun and shade. It must be difficult to spot the ball coming from either side for the players andd the line umpires as well. Another cross-court backhand slice from Novak and another failed retrun off a Simon bachhand. It is just not Djokovic's day as far as varying the shots are concerned. He is doing the right thing but it is not reaping dividends. 30-30 now. The match is 2 hours and 44 minutes old. Djokovic's decibel levels are positively higher. Time for the opponent to up his game now Djokobic holds without any further disturbing events and clenches his fist.
10th game- 9 games have taken 43 minutes. Simon serves and serves well to go up fifteen love. Djokovic's shots are lading close to the service line now albeit with a heavier top spin. It is fifteen all. A very sedate rally with Simon finishing with a down the down the line shot and Djokovic barely moving to hit it back. Now is the time for Simon to keep pushing without pausing, ensuring that there is no respite for Novak and the sounds keep getting louder. Both the players are tired but Novak draws forst blood after the tie break in this crucial set to break Simon and win the third set. Now we will have to see if Gilles Simon has lost the match even before the 4th set has started or he is willing to go all broke to even the match at two set all. My bet is Novak will break him once and take the set 6-3
4rd set, 1 st game- 12.28- Novak to serve at 15-40. 2 hours 59 mintes and we are into the second game of the 4th set. And that passing backhand again from Simon to level at thirty all. 2nd game, 4th set- Djokovic is looking the stands, smiling a little, shaking his head after a routine forehand finds the net. Simon holds and it is one game all.
3rd game, 2nd set, 12.37, three hours and three minutes. Simon to serve. 15 love.the question in my mind is will Simon be able to conserve his steam and motivation to press ahead or will they take a hit and . Another unbelievable cross court forehand that lands on the exacct corner of the long line and baseline. I feel fortune always favours the brave. And players who dont let moss grow on their racket heads and feet often get lucky. All you have to do is move moutains and get to the ball and throw your racket in the way of the ball. And again deuce for Simon. And advantage for Simon as a forehand lands long for Djokovic. And Novak hits another forehand wide off the long line and advantage for Simon. Deuce again. Game duration is now 8 minutes and some seconds. And one more forehand from Novak kisses the net. Advantage Simon. and Deuce Novak. Simon's coach on tenterhooks. Becker has shed a few kilos. A lazy forehand from Simon and he faces his karma instantly. Djokovic holds his serve after a thrilling game that stretches eight and a half minutes. And therein lies the secret to his succcess.
4th game, 4th set. 3 games have taken 24 minutes as of now. Simon to serve, Novak has changes his t-shirt to a pristine white but Simon still makes it fifteen love and thirty love, a very careful slice by Novak kisses the line all right but unsuccessful to deliver the point. it is forty love. A backhand hit long and Simon holds his serve. The shortest service game by far in the match.
5th game. it is Novak's turn. A deep, deep serve that springs as if the logn line has spat it out and it is 15 love, then 30 love. A tit for tat? Another short service game? looks like as it is forty love now.
5th game- 40 15 with Novak leading. 2nd serve. A potent backhand down the line and he bags the 5th game.
On a different court Berdych and Agut have won one set apiece. My bet is Berdych in 4 sets.
Back to Rod Laver and i am thinking long games are back on as Novak leads 3 games to 2
6th Game- Simon to serve- love 15. Simon levels 15 points all. His visage not betraying the effort. No Gallic shrugs or self remonstration. He is a Burgundy of calm! An inside out backhand by Simon levels at thirty all. Another nearly inside out followed by a deep backhand and he reaps 40 points to Novak's 30. Unforced error from Gilles. It's Deuce. Please let this not be the Frenchman's downward slide. Advantage Djokovic and he hits a forehand long. It is deuce again. 2nd serve for Simon. Unforced error for Novak and it is advantage Gilles Simon. Simon is stretching for to return a smash. it is Deuce again. A spectaculaar sliced drop shot by Gilles lands and merrily springs away. Side to side and to the net and back again and smash and Simon holds to level at three games all.
Will Gilles Simon play the match of his life, make it all the more poignant by losing?
I think yes! I am on his side, simply because he has not given up. He is trading shot for shot.
7th Game- Novak serving and getting to 40 love easily. Wait what was that again? That passing backhand brings him much needed 1 point and one more when Novak slices a drop. It is now 40-30. And Novak holds his serve. That was the second fastest service game in recent minutes.
8th game- Novak is leading at four games to three. Gilles must hold his serve. An unncessary, unforced error, I know I am being repititive. AHA! Djokovic hits a drop shot and Gilles pounces on it like Serena. Serves Novak right for not learning from his mistakes. 40-15 after the ball is rightly called in. Simon is anticipating correctly. He is stretching, is going all out, I think it will be two sets all. his reward for doing it the right way, the hard way. It is now 4 games all.
9th Game, 13.12- and it ends at 13.17 by Gilles Simon breaking Djokovic.
It is now 5sets to 4, with Gilles leading two sets each.
My prediction is if Gilles Simon wont give up till the last moment, he will WIN. At this level it is about not relenting ever, not resting on your sets, not raising your hands till it is over and duly acknowledging your opponent. Gilles deserves to win this one for not giving up. Normally a lesser player would have shown signs of giving up after the third set. Monsieur Simon GO GO GO!
Another failed drop shot from Novak and 40-15 for Simon. Deuce. Will Simon hold or will his nerves sing? Not yet, not yet. Advantage Gilles. Set point! No, Deuce. A cracker forehand from Novak sees Simon scurry unsuccessfully. and ANOTHER failed drop shot from Novak..This is astonishing! But I also admire Novak, Going for it time and again! Set point no 4 and first sign of a smile from Gilles Simon. Fist pumping gently. Mon Dieu! This guy deserves to win.
Now if he meets Wawrinka, it will be aother cracker of a match. Perfect pendulum backhand versus a nuclear single handed one.
13.25 and it is 2 sets each. the last set took all of 60 minutes.
13.27, 1st game, 5th set, Novak serving and it is love 15. My thoughts immediately go to what if Gilles wins this match? Will he be able to sustainthe momentum and his game for the quarterfinals? Often after such a huge upset, the winning players often tank in the next match. But then Gilles Simon is no Lucas Rosol or Steve Darcis or Sergiy Stakhovsky or Fabio Fognini. He is a cool customer. And has been around for long. I am going for a the same level of performance in this next match as well unless his opponent is better.
2nd game, 5th set- Simon is serving and is 30- 30. 40- 30 with another Novak long forehand. Oh my this forehand from Simon would have stopped any weak heart. It teased the line and levelled the set at one game each.
3rd Game, 5th set, 13.35- Novak serving and is up by 15 love. 30 and 40 love in quick succession. Will this set be a tie break? because it is game Novak and he leads two games to one.
4th Game- I feel Gilles Simon will lose this game. But I dont want him to. 15 love. Another ripper backhand from Simon and it is 30 love and 40 love in quick succession eeriely mirroring Novak's earlier service game. 40-15. And 40-30. Novak is creeping up on Simon. And Deuce! ANd Djokovic gets his break.
5th Game, 13.43- Novak leadds three games to one.
6th game, Novak leads four games to one and 15- 30 while Simon is serving. 15-40. And some muttering has started from Simon. and Novak breaks him again to lead by five games to one. Did Simon give up? And just when we were saying defeatist things, no no no, Simon Gilles hasn't given up. He runs to a dropped ball which is beyond him and takes it and wins the point. It is love 30 at this point. Will Simon break back and stay in the match? I say again, he deserves to because he hasn't bagged up his racket mentally. He can win four games on the trot, his forehand is still working, his backand still kisses the lines and YES it is 15-40. Break point for the frenchman. In fact 2 breakpoints but Novak come up 30-40. Still there is one more break point. And Simon breaks Novak in an unbelievable rally at this point for an opponent who is three games behind at 2-5.
Will the unthinkable happen?
8th Game- Gilles Simon serving and he serves 15 love. Djokovic levels at 15-15. An unforgiving forehand hit to the extreme corner and Novak surges 15-30. A winning forehand stikes the net and falls out. it is now 30-30. A senseless challenge by Simon gives Djokovic match point. Will he, wont he. No he wont. A netted backhand saves Simon and they are level at deuce! Advantage Novak. another long forehand by Djokovic and Deuce! A deep serve from Simon and he reaps the advantage. Djokovic asks for a review and gets it right. Deuce! Come on Simon! Indeed and Advantage Simon as Djokovic hits the forehand to the tramlines and Gilles Simon holds his serve. What an outstanding effort!
9th game- Novak serving for the match or Gilles playing to break and stay in it. 30-0. 4 hours and 31 minutes. An ace and it is 40-0. Match point and Novak wins this thrilling match in 4 hours and 32 minutes. Mammoth effort by Gilles Simon and an equal one by Novak. Brilliant match.
I hope this tells Gilles Simon what he is capable of. I guess that speaks of most Frenchmen- Gaels Montfils, Gasquest, Tsonga, Gilles himself. All have defeat the game-heavyweights,
Here's a toast to Gilles. Come back at French Open and we will be watching you Monsieur! Well played!
At this point Novak has committed 8 unforced errors. And Advantage Novak when he Simon hits a forehand in the net. A down the T for Novak equalises the score at 40-40. Another long rally and Simon hits a forehand wide. It is advantage for Novak and Simon fritter the advantage by losing the game and the set. The first set has lasted 58 minutes. And I suspect the duration was lengthened by the change in Djokovic's game more than Simon Gilles' guile. 8 unforced errors, a heightened variation in the strokes, a greater mixing of shots. While I can question if its necessary, the other argument is why not?
2nd set, 1st game 10.34- 2unforced errors already by Novak in the first game of the second set. Simon closes the game by a spectacular down-the-line backhand as an answer to an unplayable down-the-forehand by Djokovic.
2nd game- 10.37- Will Djokovic switch back to a clinical game? 3rd unforced error as he nets a routine forehand. 30-15. Simon caught on the wrong foot as he rushes to the centre and Djokovic hits a backhand again. this after some unplayable shots by both the players. But then we know of Navak's ability to retrieve, restore, revive and then repeat the whole chain AND win!
its 1 game all.
3rd game. 10.40am. We are one hour and seven minutes into the match and its just the third game of the second set. 21 shot rally!
9th Game, 11.13 am- the deuce- advantage hide and seek continues, with Djokovic making unforced errors and employing the slice unsuccessfully at the unlikeliest points. Anyways Its back to deuce and Advantage Novak as another forehand from Simon finds the net. Now will Simon be able to equalise? Yes he ddoes as Novak commits another harakiri shot when he smashes only for Simon to return and then picks up a return to volley in then net. Unbelievable retun backhand volley for Simon to hold his serve. Novak is at the net to hit a crosscourt volley and then Gilles retrieves it to hit another crosscourt over the crouched Novak and it is 5-4 and Gilles is leading. Novak is serving to stay in the set, if imight say!
10th game, 11.19- it is 30 love
12th game and the the match is 1hour 56 minutes old. An ace from Novak and he holds his serve to hold at six games all. Tie Break- Novak loses the first point. On to SImon now. Can he make it 3-love? After another punishing rally, Novak decides to end it by slicing a drop shot and it is out! 2 love to Simon. Another furious trading of shots, back hand for backhad, corner for corner and then giving Djokovic a taste of his own medicine as the commentator puts it, from Simon and he is 3 love. 4 love, and 5 love as another drop shots sputters into the net. Finally a point for Nova. Will he be able to arrest he slide in this tie-break or will he make a clean break and start afresh in the 3rd set? Simon leading at 5-1 and yes, Gilles Simon win the tie break and the second set. Will Djokovic come back as usual and win the following sets? History says yes but history also gets made.
3rd set, 3rd game, 11.47- Djokovic breaks Simon and leads by 2 games to love. And like the previous sets, there is every chance that Simon will break him back, thanks to some nifty moving around the court and Novak's senseless slice shots. An ace fro Djokovic closes the 3rd set and now leads three games to love.
What have we learnt so far?
Djokovic is willing to experiment like a bartender does with cocktails. But a singlemalt just doesn't mix with a carbonated drink, though one cant say till one has tried it. So Novak has and a slice doesnt work if you can put away a shot by just hammering it back to a corner or right back at the oppoent's shoes. Will Novak play his natural game 3rd set onwards except of course for the unforced errors?
4th Game 11.51- Simon leads forty love. Now 40-30. Old or will get broken? Hold. Another sliced backhand from Djokovic lands in the gutter and Simon holds.
5th Game, 11.55- Djokovic serves, love 15. His shots are now accompanies by sound as well. A sign that some effort is involved. Love forty and Simon breaks Djokovic. He deserves the result. As I said, he has been running well, chasing down every ball, finding corners and hitting clean down-the-shots, waiting patiently at the baseline when needed and getting rewarded for his efforts.
6th Game, 11.58. Simon serving, thirty love, thirty all. two winning backhands in a row and Novak is back in the game. Deuece. Advantage Novak. 2 hours 29 minutes. Back to Deuce. and three games all.
7th game- The Serbian and the Frenchman are freely using the whole court. 40-30 for Novak. And....game Djokovic.
8th Game- thirty love, a cool down the line backhand and it is forty love. a terrific backhand retrieval by Simon and Djokovic is ready, alas the shot is too deep ffor Novak to volley and it is four games all.
9th Game- 12.14- love 15 after Novak challeges the umpire's overrule. The court is now vertically sliced by sun and shade. It must be difficult to spot the ball coming from either side for the players andd the line umpires as well. Another cross-court backhand slice from Novak and another failed retrun off a Simon bachhand. It is just not Djokovic's day as far as varying the shots are concerned. He is doing the right thing but it is not reaping dividends. 30-30 now. The match is 2 hours and 44 minutes old. Djokovic's decibel levels are positively higher. Time for the opponent to up his game now Djokobic holds without any further disturbing events and clenches his fist.
10th game- 9 games have taken 43 minutes. Simon serves and serves well to go up fifteen love. Djokovic's shots are lading close to the service line now albeit with a heavier top spin. It is fifteen all. A very sedate rally with Simon finishing with a down the down the line shot and Djokovic barely moving to hit it back. Now is the time for Simon to keep pushing without pausing, ensuring that there is no respite for Novak and the sounds keep getting louder. Both the players are tired but Novak draws forst blood after the tie break in this crucial set to break Simon and win the third set. Now we will have to see if Gilles Simon has lost the match even before the 4th set has started or he is willing to go all broke to even the match at two set all. My bet is Novak will break him once and take the set 6-3
4rd set, 1 st game- 12.28- Novak to serve at 15-40. 2 hours 59 mintes and we are into the second game of the 4th set. And that passing backhand again from Simon to level at thirty all. 2nd game, 4th set- Djokovic is looking the stands, smiling a little, shaking his head after a routine forehand finds the net. Simon holds and it is one game all.
3rd game, 2nd set, 12.37, three hours and three minutes. Simon to serve. 15 love.the question in my mind is will Simon be able to conserve his steam and motivation to press ahead or will they take a hit and . Another unbelievable cross court forehand that lands on the exacct corner of the long line and baseline. I feel fortune always favours the brave. And players who dont let moss grow on their racket heads and feet often get lucky. All you have to do is move moutains and get to the ball and throw your racket in the way of the ball. And again deuce for Simon. And advantage for Simon as a forehand lands long for Djokovic. And Novak hits another forehand wide off the long line and advantage for Simon. Deuce again. Game duration is now 8 minutes and some seconds. And one more forehand from Novak kisses the net. Advantage Simon. and Deuce Novak. Simon's coach on tenterhooks. Becker has shed a few kilos. A lazy forehand from Simon and he faces his karma instantly. Djokovic holds his serve after a thrilling game that stretches eight and a half minutes. And therein lies the secret to his succcess.
4th game, 4th set. 3 games have taken 24 minutes as of now. Simon to serve, Novak has changes his t-shirt to a pristine white but Simon still makes it fifteen love and thirty love, a very careful slice by Novak kisses the line all right but unsuccessful to deliver the point. it is forty love. A backhand hit long and Simon holds his serve. The shortest service game by far in the match.
5th game. it is Novak's turn. A deep, deep serve that springs as if the logn line has spat it out and it is 15 love, then 30 love. A tit for tat? Another short service game? looks like as it is forty love now.
5th game- 40 15 with Novak leading. 2nd serve. A potent backhand down the line and he bags the 5th game.
On a different court Berdych and Agut have won one set apiece. My bet is Berdych in 4 sets.
Back to Rod Laver and i am thinking long games are back on as Novak leads 3 games to 2
6th Game- Simon to serve- love 15. Simon levels 15 points all. His visage not betraying the effort. No Gallic shrugs or self remonstration. He is a Burgundy of calm! An inside out backhand by Simon levels at thirty all. Another nearly inside out followed by a deep backhand and he reaps 40 points to Novak's 30. Unforced error from Gilles. It's Deuce. Please let this not be the Frenchman's downward slide. Advantage Djokovic and he hits a forehand long. It is deuce again. 2nd serve for Simon. Unforced error for Novak and it is advantage Gilles Simon. Simon is stretching for to return a smash. it is Deuce again. A spectaculaar sliced drop shot by Gilles lands and merrily springs away. Side to side and to the net and back again and smash and Simon holds to level at three games all.
Will Gilles Simon play the match of his life, make it all the more poignant by losing?
I think yes! I am on his side, simply because he has not given up. He is trading shot for shot.
7th Game- Novak serving and getting to 40 love easily. Wait what was that again? That passing backhand brings him much needed 1 point and one more when Novak slices a drop. It is now 40-30. And Novak holds his serve. That was the second fastest service game in recent minutes.
8th game- Novak is leading at four games to three. Gilles must hold his serve. An unncessary, unforced error, I know I am being repititive. AHA! Djokovic hits a drop shot and Gilles pounces on it like Serena. Serves Novak right for not learning from his mistakes. 40-15 after the ball is rightly called in. Simon is anticipating correctly. He is stretching, is going all out, I think it will be two sets all. his reward for doing it the right way, the hard way. It is now 4 games all.
9th Game, 13.12- and it ends at 13.17 by Gilles Simon breaking Djokovic.
It is now 5sets to 4, with Gilles leading two sets each.
My prediction is if Gilles Simon wont give up till the last moment, he will WIN. At this level it is about not relenting ever, not resting on your sets, not raising your hands till it is over and duly acknowledging your opponent. Gilles deserves to win this one for not giving up. Normally a lesser player would have shown signs of giving up after the third set. Monsieur Simon GO GO GO!
Another failed drop shot from Novak and 40-15 for Simon. Deuce. Will Simon hold or will his nerves sing? Not yet, not yet. Advantage Gilles. Set point! No, Deuce. A cracker forehand from Novak sees Simon scurry unsuccessfully. and ANOTHER failed drop shot from Novak..This is astonishing! But I also admire Novak, Going for it time and again! Set point no 4 and first sign of a smile from Gilles Simon. Fist pumping gently. Mon Dieu! This guy deserves to win.
Now if he meets Wawrinka, it will be aother cracker of a match. Perfect pendulum backhand versus a nuclear single handed one.
13.25 and it is 2 sets each. the last set took all of 60 minutes.
13.27, 1st game, 5th set, Novak serving and it is love 15. My thoughts immediately go to what if Gilles wins this match? Will he be able to sustainthe momentum and his game for the quarterfinals? Often after such a huge upset, the winning players often tank in the next match. But then Gilles Simon is no Lucas Rosol or Steve Darcis or Sergiy Stakhovsky or Fabio Fognini. He is a cool customer. And has been around for long. I am going for a the same level of performance in this next match as well unless his opponent is better.
2nd game, 5th set- Simon is serving and is 30- 30. 40- 30 with another Novak long forehand. Oh my this forehand from Simon would have stopped any weak heart. It teased the line and levelled the set at one game each.
3rd Game, 5th set, 13.35- Novak serving and is up by 15 love. 30 and 40 love in quick succession. Will this set be a tie break? because it is game Novak and he leads two games to one.
4th Game- I feel Gilles Simon will lose this game. But I dont want him to. 15 love. Another ripper backhand from Simon and it is 30 love and 40 love in quick succession eeriely mirroring Novak's earlier service game. 40-15. And 40-30. Novak is creeping up on Simon. And Deuce! ANd Djokovic gets his break.
5th Game, 13.43- Novak leadds three games to one.
6th game, Novak leads four games to one and 15- 30 while Simon is serving. 15-40. And some muttering has started from Simon. and Novak breaks him again to lead by five games to one. Did Simon give up? And just when we were saying defeatist things, no no no, Simon Gilles hasn't given up. He runs to a dropped ball which is beyond him and takes it and wins the point. It is love 30 at this point. Will Simon break back and stay in the match? I say again, he deserves to because he hasn't bagged up his racket mentally. He can win four games on the trot, his forehand is still working, his backand still kisses the lines and YES it is 15-40. Break point for the frenchman. In fact 2 breakpoints but Novak come up 30-40. Still there is one more break point. And Simon breaks Novak in an unbelievable rally at this point for an opponent who is three games behind at 2-5.
Will the unthinkable happen?
8th Game- Gilles Simon serving and he serves 15 love. Djokovic levels at 15-15. An unforgiving forehand hit to the extreme corner and Novak surges 15-30. A winning forehand stikes the net and falls out. it is now 30-30. A senseless challenge by Simon gives Djokovic match point. Will he, wont he. No he wont. A netted backhand saves Simon and they are level at deuce! Advantage Novak. another long forehand by Djokovic and Deuce! A deep serve from Simon and he reaps the advantage. Djokovic asks for a review and gets it right. Deuce! Come on Simon! Indeed and Advantage Simon as Djokovic hits the forehand to the tramlines and Gilles Simon holds his serve. What an outstanding effort!
9th game- Novak serving for the match or Gilles playing to break and stay in it. 30-0. 4 hours and 31 minutes. An ace and it is 40-0. Match point and Novak wins this thrilling match in 4 hours and 32 minutes. Mammoth effort by Gilles Simon and an equal one by Novak. Brilliant match.
I hope this tells Gilles Simon what he is capable of. I guess that speaks of most Frenchmen- Gaels Montfils, Gasquest, Tsonga, Gilles himself. All have defeat the game-heavyweights,
Here's a toast to Gilles. Come back at French Open and we will be watching you Monsieur! Well played!
