[nvmrfgopyy]

That’s it. I’m leaving my life as we know it behind, picking up my rackets, and going pro. That’s right. Straight to the ATP Tour.

OK not really, but with every single match Gilles Simon wins, that desire grows stronger.

Before this, his breakout 2008 campaign, Simon was a virtual unknown outside of die-hard tennis fan circles. Even now he has to be the least-known player inside the top 20. It goes without saying that he is far from a fan favorite. Not because he is a bad guy or anything (he actually seems like quite a good guy), but because he rarely hits jaw-dropping shots, rarely shows emotion, and until this summer, rarely won anything of importance. In other words, Simon is not exactly an inspiration to the average tennis watcher.

No, Simon is an inspiration to the average tennis player. He is living example of you can win at the highest level of tennis by keeping balls in play and fighting as hard as you possibly can until the chair umpire tells you the match is over with a simple “Game, set, and match” phrase that is only outdone in simplicity by Simon’s game.

Those two key elements-refusing to miss shots and refusing to give up on any point or any match until it is over-have propelled Simon to three ATP titles this year to go along with a Masters Series semifinal showing in Toronto and now a Masters Series title match appearance in Madrid. They have also propelled him to a borderline shocking Top 15 ranking.

That’s right, folks. I’m here to tell you that Simon has done all of this by 1) trying, and 2) hitting balls over the net, between the alleys, and inside the baseline.

And now the good news for all the Average Joe tennis players out there: anyone who has ever picked up a tennis racket is capable of performing those two basic tasks. Sure, some can do task #2 a lot better than others, but anyone can come close to perfecting task #2 by doing a lot of task #1.

If you aren’t convinced, I implore you to watch a Simon match and continue to watch more and more Simon matches until you are ready to abandon your previous job and hit the circuit. I was almost ready after witnessing every single stroke of his clash with Juan Martin Del Potro at the U.S. Open (which Simon lost in five sets). Now I think I’m ready. Madrid, for me, is the last straw.

Consider: Simon has won five matches this week, four of them in third-set tiebreakers. He saved five match points against Igor Andreev by hitting ball after ball back to Andreev on the match points until the Russian missed. He saved two match points against Ginepri, outlasting the American on both after brutally long rallies in which Simon hit (some would say “pushed”) ball after ball in the court until Ginepri finally obliged with an error. As if that wasn’t enough, on Saturday he swindled Rafael Nadal (yes, the No. 1 player on the planet) into playing his let’s-see-who-can-keep-the-most-balls-in-play war of attrition. By now you know that it was Simon who won that war.


Rest of article:
http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/2133

[HawksBurnDown]

Rarely shows emotion? Who's this guy watching?

[nvmrfgopyy]

Gilles has quietly made his way into my personal Top 5 this year. In a sport where it is real easy to question the heart of a lot of the top players, seems like Simon has more than almost anyone. His match against Del Potro at the US went so far in making me a huge fan. And he plays the style of game I've always loved.

[nvmrfgopyy]

Rarely shows emotion? Who's this guy watching?

Marat?

A-Rod?

Dijana Djokovic?

[HawksBurnDown]

Marat?

A-Rod?

Dijana Djokovic?

Still. After his semifinal I was on the yahoo tennis page where they have pictures and all six were various stages of Simon primal screams. This guy puts it out there. Like Radwanska, I'm curious what his staying power is.

[Nglvayhp]

I find Gilles Simon's game the hardest to classify. Sure, he is a pusher of the ball most of the time, and to me at least, makes watching his matches a little boring. His shots often lack bite; the strokes are smooth, mostly non-aggressive but very consistent. You feel like he could run you down forever. But there is something to his game that is very much not that of a pusher's. When forced to, he often pulls off just totally ridiculous winners. I think the opponents forget that Simon can hit winners and they get badly burnt. Simon has flair but it comes out in short intermittent surprising bursts. This point is the perfect illustration:
Simon backhand winner

[DoterForeva]

I adore him.

Saturday's match was a blast.

Aaron Krickstein came to mind Saturday. But, maybe that's just me.

[nvmrfgopyy]

Still. After his semifinal I was on the yahoo tennis page where they have pictures and all six were various stages of Simon primal screams. This guy puts it out there. Like Radwanska, I'm curious what his staying power is.

I've gotten to see him in person twice now, Bea. Both times this season...against Youzhny at IW, and against DelPotro at the US.

He really reminds me more of Arantxa than any male player. Not particularly gifted in any single area, but good enough at everything, and then throw in that grinding ability, plus what seems to be a huge amount of heart. And an unwillingness to say quit when 90% of his contemporaries probably would.

He'll be 24 at the end of the season. His biggest problem could be that he will be maturing as a tennis player at the same time as getting older takes it toll on the style of game he plays.

[HawksBurnDown]

I've gotten to see him in person twice now, Bea. Both times this season...against Youzhny at IW, and against DelPotro at the US.

He really reminds me more of Arantxa than any male player. Not particularly gifted in any single area, but good enough at everything, and then throw in that grinding ability, plus what seems to be a huge amount of heart. And an unwillingness to say quit when 90% of his contemporaries probably would.

He'll be 24 at the end of the season. His biggest problem could be that he will be maturing as a tennis player at the same time as getting older takes it toll on the style of game he plays.

I want you to know that I read everything you wrote and took it very seriously. I also want you to know how difficult that was with that avatar staring me in the face.

[Gastonleruanich]

Gilles has quietly made his way into my personal Top 5 this year. In a sport where it is real easy to question the heart of a lot of the top players, seems like Simon has more than almost anyone. His match against Del Potro at the US went so far in making me a huge fan. And he plays the style of game I've always loved.

Are you mixing him up with Muller?

I like Gilles (Simon), too. He does seem like a good guy. And I like his stoic, yet explosive nature.

[RooxiaNof]

If Gilles can do this for the next 2-3 years, he will have a Nikolay type career. He may win a Masters Shield but I do not see him winning a Slam.

[nvmrfgopyy]

I want you to know that I read everything you wrote and took it very seriously. I also want you to know how difficult that was with that avatar staring me in the face.

If you can find me one of PEHK wearing a Phillies jersey, I'll gladly change it.

[EnvellFen]

That’s right, folks. I’m here to tell you that Simon has done all of this by 1) trying, and 2) hitting balls over the net, between the alleys, and inside the baseline.

Rest of article:
http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/2133

so that is what is keeping me off the circuit, Wimbledon here I come!
but in all seriousness I love Simon and his game, definatly on my faves list and moving up

[Nglvayhp]

Actually now that I think of it, I'd describe him (in terms of his game) as Andy Murray from two years ago.

[HawksBurnDown]

If Gilles can do this for the next 2-3 years, he will have a Nikolay type career. He may win a Masters Shield but I do not see him winning a Slam.

Nikolay has a much stronger game and he's still only #6. Like Radwanska, I think Simon's topped out. Good luck getting past Karlovic next time, forget about Nadal.

[Leczyslaw]

Actually now that I think of it, I'd describe him (in terms of his game) as Andy Murray from two years ago.

Agree, and not even two years ago, how about the one before this summer? with weaker serve, but very solid all around game, excellent touch and good court sense. I would also say that he is fairly talented, certainly more than some people are giving him credit for.

[fuesquemill]

Actually now that I think of it, I'd describe him (in terms of his game) as Andy Murray from two years ago.

I agree with this sentiment. I really enjoyed Olive Oyl's SF against Rafa, and thought the final would be an intriguing match of cat-and-mouse. But I found it to be rather dull, except for the excitement that's mandatory in an 8-6 tiebreak.

[HawksBurnDown]

Eh re: the Andy comparison. Andy always had the shots, whether he used them or not. And he hits much deeper and flatter. And mixes it up better. Simon is just consistent and indefatigable.

[RooxiaNof]

Nikolay has a much stronger game and he's still only #6. Like Radwanska, I think Simon's topped out. Good luck getting past Karlovic next time, forget about Nadal.

I lean more with your assessment than the one that say that he will improve.

[heinz_1966]

Hell, I'm a fan of the way that all the Frenchies play- so, count me in with this fan club.

Of all the comparisons, Arantxa works the best for me. IMO Andy M's got a lot more talent and options than Simon ever will. At his best, Davydenko's shots over-all are hit harder- but, I think that Simon has more firepower than the male equivalent of a Radwanska. I will be curious if Simon can have any stayiing power- or, if he'll dip soon and/or for good. The Rafa/Simon match was fascinating.

Now, everyone please be still just for a moment. Nelslus is still trying to recover from reading in another thread that beau has a crush and Scotty has a quasi-crush on Simon. EWWWWWWW. (We clearly need a TAT committee to approve Beau's future love interests once and for all.)