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2012 Hardcourt all the way! 100% going forward! Hopefully.

73K views 1K replies 35 participants last post by  lalaland 
#1 · (Edited)
2012 starts on the wrong side for Gilles. So this is take 2, let's start over again. Not to expect him to suddenly be good, but we'll do all we can (and pretty much all we can do is to open new thread for each tournament if that helps :p) to hope that he'll get better soon.

Next stop is Indian Wells, starts on March 8th, but he has bye, so probably won't start for him til the 10th at the earliest. HC is of course more of his element, so here's hoping that he'll do better, beat a Top 50 and get that monkey off the back. Allez Gilles.

__________________

I just noticed that I set the bar very low :lol:, baby steps baby steps, one tournament at a time.
 
#1,450 ·
This is the itw, saw it on WLT, more clear.

Gilles Simon a profité du retrait de Kei Nishikori pour se qualifier en quarts de finale du Masters 1000 de Bercy. Le Niçois est chanceux, puisqu'il aurait dû affronter Roger Federer au deuxième tour, avant que celui-ci ne déclare forfait. Gilou affrontera Tomas Berdych en quarts. En conférence de presse, l'optimisme n'était néanmoins pas tout à fait de rigueur, puisque le Français se dit plus ou moins ennuyé par un pépin physique. Mais chut, il ne veut pas en dire plus...

Vous allez jouer au Lotto ?
Oui, il faut reconnaître que c'est ma semaine !

C'est un peu étrange, non ?
C'est vrai qu'en regardant le tableau, ça ne semblait pas facile. Mais, au final, tout s'est ouvert pour moi. Ce matin, je ne me sentais pas très bien. Et puis, mon adversaire a déclaré forfait. Je vais faire en sorte de me sentir mieux demain. Pour le moment, les choses tournent bien.

Qu'est-ce que vous aviez, ce matin ? On a entendu dire que c'était votre cou. Nishikori a peut-être jeté l'éponge avant que vous ne le fassiez vous-même...
Je ne veux pas vraiment expliquer en détails mon problème. Mais c'était une bonne chose qu'il déclare forfait, parce qu'il y a des jours où vous vous sentez prêt et, aujourd'hui, pour moi, ce n'était pas le cas ! Mais quand je l'ai vu s'entraîner ce matin, je me suis dit qu'il n'avait pas l'air bien en forme. Il avait l'air un peu fatigué.

Pourquoi ne voulez-vous pas parler de votre blessure ?
Je ne veux pas donner des informations aux autres joueurs. C'est comme ça. Je ne veux pas trop en parler. Si mes adversaires savent que c'est, par exemple, la cheville qui me fait mal, ils vont me faire courir encore plus !

Vous avez l'impression de vous améliorer ? Vous êtes confiant pour l'année prochaine ?

Vous savez, il n'y a pas de raisons que mon physique m'embête jusqu'à la fin de ma vie. Je suis sûr que les choses vont mieux aller. Jusqu'à maintenant, je me sentais bien. C'est en m'entraînant ce matin que je ne me suis pas senti terrible. Je ne pouvais pas deviner que ça se passerait comme ça aujourd'hui, je me dis que ça va aller mieux.

Vous pensez au titre et à la possibilité d'améliorer votre classement ?
Non. La seule chose sur laquelle je veux être concentré, c'est sur mon match de demain. J'ai arrêté de regarder mon classement.


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Google translated:

Gilles Simon took advantage of the withdrawal of Kei Nishikori to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 1000 Masters Bercy. The Nice is lucky, since he should have to face Roger Federer in the second round, before it is forfeit. Gilou face Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. At a press conference, optimism was still not quite rigorous, since the French are more or less says annoyed by a physical seed. But shhh, he does not want to say more ...

You play the Lotto?

Yes, we must recognize that it is my week!

It's a bit strange, no?

It is true that looking at the chart, it does not seem easy. But in the end, everything is open for me. This morning I was not feeling very well. And my opponent has forfeited. I'm going to make myself feel better tomorrow. For the moment, things go well.

What you did this morning? We heard it was your neck. Nishikori may have thrown in the towel before you do that yourself ...
I do not really want to explain in detail my problem. But it was a good thing he withdraws, because there are days when you feel ready, and now, for me, this was not the case! But when I saw him train this morning, I thought he did not look in good shape. He looked a little tired.

Why do not you want to talk about your injury?
I do not want to give information to other players. It's like that. I do not want to talk too much. If my opponents know that, for example, the ankle hurts, they'll run more!

You feel like you improve? You are confident for next year?
You know, there is no reason that my physical bothers me until the end of my life. I'm sure things will go better. Until now, I felt good. This is causing me this morning that I did not feel terrible. I could not guess what it would be like this today, I think it will get better.

You think the title and the opportunity to improve your ranking?
No. The only thing I want to concentrate on my game is tomorrow. I stopped watching my ranking.
 
#1,454 ·
He won! Yes.

Since I said that it will go to 3, he broke back, and then broke to ahead, and then serve 3 junk serve and go down 0-40 when serving for the match, and then serve 3 great ones to save all those BPs, and then hit an ace to seal the match. Pretty cool. And Tomas was smiling big when shaking hands, I wonder what he said to Gilles :lol:.
 
#1,455 ·
Gilles :woohoo: , unbelievable :yeah: , really solid match, he was in the verge to lose the 2nd down 0-3 15-40 but he managed. Also, what a way to save the 3 BP's at the end :rocker:
 
#1,458 ·
:yippee::woohoo::bigclap: Great stuff from Gilles. Especially the composure he showed at 0-40 down serving for the match. I haven't been that nervous during a tennis match in quite some time. I can only imagine how Gilles felt. I'm so happy that he has been able to come good from the openings in the draw for him and do himself proud in front of his crowd. He and we deserve this moment. It's been a rough season and especially rough past few months, but what a great moment this was. I hope more is still to come. Give him and us something positive to end the season on.
 
#1,459 ·
Congrats Gillou !
Everybody of the french tennis family was here together in the box, so funny: Captain Arnaud, Dip, Seb Grosjean, Nico Escudé, Thierry Tulasne, Gachassin etc...
 
#1,463 ·
That's a lot of hotness in one frame :D

I thought I would watch the Tipsy Jerzy match to scout this new kid and see what he's about and what Gilles might be up against if he were to win and it's looking pretty scary if Gilles were to have to face him.:scared: It's looking like Tipsy is going to lose. I am actually pulling for Tipsy in this match because Gilles has the winning record over him and knows what to expect with his game and how to prepare for him, but this Janowicz guy is new and very dangerous at the moment. Powerful serve and powerful ground strokes. He's a beast.

Gilles will be under so much pressure with this guy and no previous match up to draw from. He'll be eating Gilles' 2nd serves, and maybe even his 1st serves for breakfast. It might be destiny for this guy to win this title. Who knows, but i'm worried. I hope if he does win, which it looks like, that the bubble bursts when he faces Gilles.
I was cheering for Tipsy too, he is a much easier opponent than a complete unknown up&comer for Gilles. Not to mention he beat Murray who plays a similar way as Gilles, just better and a bigger serve. This kid has all the momentum and no fear, lethal combination for the opponent. Oh well, maybe this isn't Gilles' week, it's Janowitz's week. Good luck anyway, Gilles. Do your best.
 
#1,460 · (Edited)
I thought I would watch the Tipsy Jerzy match to scout this new kid and see what he's about and what Gilles might be up against if he were to win and it's looking pretty scary if Gilles were to have to face him.:scared: It's looking like Tipsy is going to lose. I am actually pulling for Tipsy in this match because Gilles has the winning record over him and knows what to expect with his game and how to prepare for him, but this Janowicz guy is new and very dangerous at the moment. Powerful serve and powerful ground strokes. He's a beast.

Gilles will be under so much pressure with this guy and no previous match up to draw from. He'll be eating Gilles' 2nd serves, and maybe even his 1st serves for breakfast. It might be destiny for this guy to win this title. Who knows, but i'm worried. I hope if he does win, which it looks like, that the bubble bursts when he faces Gilles.
 
#1,468 ·
I think Gillou has exactly the right kind of game to beat Janowicz rather handily. Just hope he's feeling fresh and ready.

Starting to just think about him lifting that title on Sunday. Let's hope that materialises.

I hope you guys are right, but I don't know man.:unsure: Maybe it's just the pessimist and worry wart in me when it comes to Gilles, but did you guys see this Jerzy guy play this week? He is a beast. Huge serve and huge ground strokes, especially off of the forehand side. He was just bossing Tipsy around all over the place and eating up his serve like it was nothing and Tipsy serves way bigger than Gilles does. He looked untouchable.

And like lalaland said, Murray and Gilles play very similar games and Jerzy bossed Murray around too. He's young, powerful and has no fear because he's just starting and already knows he has nothing to lose here so he's just swinging for the fences and going all out which is a dangerous combination.

I want Gilles to win very badly, but I know just how much at risk he will be against this guy tomorrow. On paper it would seem and look like the ideal match up for any Simon fan to want for a semifinal of a masters 1000, but if you saw any of this Jerzy guy play this week, you know it will easily end up being the toughest match up Gilles will face all week. I hope i'm wrong, but I just got a bad feeling based on what I saw of Jerzy today and the roll he's been on all week. It may be destiny for him this week.:shrug:
 
#1,469 ·
Allez Gilles against Janowicz! For sure it will be very difficult, but maybe the polish is tired and Gilles is playing great so we will see.
 
#1,470 ·
L'equipe

Gilou roi de l’embrouille

Tactiquement parfait, Gilles Simon a encore rendu maboule Tomas Berdych (6-4, 6-4). Après Monte-Carlo,

c’est sa seconde demi-finale en Masters 1000 cette saison.

ÇA Y EST, c’est prouvé : on peut cravater Berdych en servant les trois quarts du match comme une jeune fille. On ne saurait dire si c’est trop flatteur pour la jeune fille ou si c’est à se taper la tête contre les murs pour ce pauvre Berdych, mais hier Simon a servi à 172 km/h de moyenne en première balle et à 129 km/h en seconde. Le radar afficha même plusieurs fois des vitesses folles à 111 km/h, 114 km/h… On sait bien que Simon n’est pas le sosie officiel de John Isner, mais de là à… On le voyait raide comme un piquet, faire des moulinets pour essayer de détendre un peu ses cervicales. Toujours ce vieux problème qu’il trimbale avec lui depuis des années. Il y a des matins où ça va, d’autres où c’est insupportable. Mais il se soigne. « C’est aussi pour ça que je n’ai plus de coach. En ce moment, j’ai moins besoin de Thierry (Tulasne, remercié en septembre) que d’un kiné. Je passe trois fois plus de temps à l’infirmerie que sur le terrain. Mais ça s’améliore. Je ne me sens pas mal. »

Il aurait même le droit de se sentir carrément bien. Ce n’est pas tous les jours qu’on entend Bercy crier « Gilou ! Gilou ! » Gilles Simon est en demi-finales à Bercy et il n’est plus question de parler trèfle à quatre feuilles. La chance n’a rien à voir avec ce qui s’est passé hier. Tout en timing, à coups de balles molles et de contres sournois, Simon a amené le sixième mondial pile là où il déteste aller. Petit à petit, il lui a grignoté un par un tous ses neurones disponibles. Si bien que Berdych arrosa gaiement. À la fin, il sera à la tête d’une magnifique collection de 41 fautes directes, dont 25 en revers, son coup le plus fiable.

« Berdych n’a pas de solutions tactiques contre Gilles, expliquait Thierry Tulasne, l’ancien coach, qui n’a pas loupé une miette de Simon cette semaine. Gilles le retourne beaucoup. Il lit parfaitement son service. Berdych ne le déborde pas (d’où ses cinq défaites en sept matches contre le Français), Gilles croise, croise encore et l’autre part à la faute. »

Berdych a vu E.T.

« Berdych adore quand ça joue en rythme et qu’il peut frapper au-dessus de la hanche, décryptait Arnaud Clément. La balle de Gilles l’en empêche. Elle reste basse, elle fuse et Berdych force. » « Tomas frappe très fort des deux côtés, mais il a du mal à me faire un point gagnant, disait le 20e mondial. J’arrive à bien m’appuyer sur sa balle pour le faire beaucoup travailler du fond. Parfois, j’aurais aimé engager plus. Mais ce n’était pas ce qu’il fallait faire. Je ne vais pas gagner contre Berdych en frappant plus fort que lui... »

Pour résumer, on dira que c’est la victoire d’un maître tacticien qui a des jambes de Kényan en cette fin de saison. « C’est vrai que cette année je finis très frais, confirma-t-il. Et j’ai très envie. J’ai toujours été mauvais à Bercy et ça m’embêtait parce que j’ai grandi à côté. C’est en venant à ce tournoi, quand j’étais petit, que j’ai découvert le haut niveau. »

Et le match dans tout ça ? Simon breaka à 2-2 au premier set, écarta deux balles de 4-4 grâce à un service soudain plus mordant (on vous dit qu’il est malin le bougre !) et ne fut pas perturbé plus que ça d’avoir manqué trois balles de set à 5-3. Ensuite, Berdych se fâcha. Il mena 3-0 puis disposa de trois balles de double break. Simon résista, continua sa petite cuisine et le Tchèque partit en vrille alors qu’il servait pour mener 5-2.

Une maladie du coup droit venait d’être diagnostiquée. Elle était incurable. « Le jeu de Gilles est ce qu’il est. On s’en fiche de son style, préférait sourire Berdych. Il a trop bon pour moi. Ça fait très longtemps que je ne l’avais pas vu jouer si bien. J’ai peut-être trop forcé, mais quand le gars en face ne fait jamais une faute, quand il bouge aussi vite, ça peut arriver. À 5-4 au second set, je mène 0-40 et là, il me sort trois premiers services super bien placés, presque des aces. Simon venait d’une autre planète aujourd’hui. »

En parlant de Martien, Simon va être servi tout à l’heure avec l’impayable Jerzy Janowicz, qu’il n’a vu qu’à la télé. « Je veux aller en finale, répétait hier le Niçois. Et ce sera quand même plus ouvert que contre Rafa à Monte-Carlo. » Normalement, oui.

FRÉDÉRIC BERNÈS
 
#1,476 ·
I'm very proud of Gilles this week. JJ is a beast, nice to see a new talent coming up, just a shame Gilles had to meet him.

Good end to the year, got himself a bit higher for AO draw.
 
#1,477 ·
I can't really be that mad, when a guy serves like that there's not much you can do. It really is just his week, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him win the finals as well. SF's at masters are rare, especially when you beat a top 10 player like Berdych so overall a good week, but it is disappointing.
 
#1,478 ·
Well, too good.

Bit sad that Gilles can't get use of this great opportunity. But considering what's been going on this season, a SF showing in a ATP1000 is rather good. And he got back to Top 16, will have a good enough seeding comes AO.

Janowicz literally pushing Gilles' head to hug him at the net :lol:. Gilles' such a small guy when he stands next to giant.
 
#1,479 ·
Well, I wish I could say i'm surprised. It was amazing how hopeless it all felt for Gilles right from the start. I think Jerzy is going to take the whole thing. There's really no weakness in his game. He just lacks big match experience but he's getting that right now in a hurry and he's too young and green right now to be afraid of the moment.

There was really just nothing that Gilles could do. No break point chances and under too much pressure every service game because of this kid's effortless power and pretty damn good movement for his size. He's basically everything that Karlovic isn't. I look at it like this. Karlovic was the early prototype, Isner was the revised model, and Jerzy is the end result of the evolution of a big man in tennis. The perfect balance of power, movement and shot selection.

It was a great effort and run for Gilles. Nothing for him to hang his head about. It just hurts because who knows if he'll ever have an opportunity to ever get to a masters final again. Regardless, focusing on the positives to come out of this are a great finish to the year and good for his ranking too.
 
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