I was re-watching the match Gilles had with Bautista and I noticed this guy sitting right next to Carine so I took this screen grab of him. Anybody have any idea who this guy is sitting next to Carine? Could it by any chance be Gilles' brother? I don't know what he looks like and i've never seen him before and i've always wondered what he looked like and if he was as good looking as Gilles. Maybe you know lalaland? Since it was in Marseille and he does come from time to time when Gilles is playing in France I figured maybe it was him. I don't see a resemblance though. Obviously he's somebody to the family because he's sitting right next to Carine. Just curious if anybody knows.
Sorry gillesaddict, I never see Gilles’ brother before, don’t know what he looks like. But this is a handsome guy, so he could be the brother. Ha.
Carine doesn’t seem to sit with his family often though, I think she likes to sit next to the exit so she can leave quickly and quietly, but that’s just a feeling (and I do saw her a couple of time positioning herself for a quick exit in various matches.)
Yesterday's paper….(sorry, forgot to save the original French version and don't bother to look again): In the old days, at the beginning of his career free of injury, he was guilty of not being a fan of recovery, very difficult to get him to the massage table. But yesterday, he did whatever the physio told him to before the DP match, but wasted. He felt it at 4-1 against DP, after a violent movement. But the muscle was hot enough so he managed to finish the match without much trouble. It’s a different story today (in SF). The pain wasn’t insurmountable, just enough to lose a bit of mobility and get into his head. So under these circumstances, he has no chance against Jo. So Simon paid for his youthful mistake. Now he knows what he has to do. Seeing Jo has a fragile body a long time ago and managed to get out of it, that shows him the way. Jo said his fragile body has helped him to become a real pro in preparation, diet and recovery, he learnt to work with his body. Now is Simon's turn, just a little delay.
I hope it’s not too late for Gilles. Jo’s fragile body in early of his career is a blessing in disguise then. Gilles is now 28, a lot of damage already done to the body. Still it’s never too late if this can prolong his career some what, or just to not have physical issue every 4th match is probably already quite good. Although the could-haves are useless, I can’t stop myself from thinking how many opportunities misses for him in these 2 years. Many times that he ranked 11 and just a win or 2 away from getting back to Top 10 but his body failed him. Like after winning Hamburg, he was 5 pts away and has no point to defend in Toronto, only to get yet another back injury and lost there in R1. Anyways, what can you do. Hopefully, Gilles doesn’t dwell on those lost opportunities like I do for him.
And Jo must be Gilles' idol. It's always Jo this Jo that. Jo managed without a coach for a year and a half... Jo's learnt to take care of his body.... And I always suspect that he has a bit of an inferior complex when he plays against Jo, on hard court at least. Yesterday, he probably went to the court thinking he has no chance at all, it showed seeing how fast he gave up on the match. (as compared to that Bercy match against Berdych, which he also had a bit of back problem going in - he said he could of pulled out of the previous match if Nishikori didn't beat him to it). But he managed against Berdych no problem bcos he's facing Berdych.
Obviously, nothing is given, a lefty big server like Muller is always dangerous when he's on, and Paire he hasn't beaten yet in 2 tries. But this is a good draw, no denying. He just better make himself worthy. Allez Gillou.
I just hope he somehow avoids Paire but I have a bad feeling that Paire will make the third round. Other than that, I agree it's not too bad of a draw.
Hmmm. I don't know. It depends on which Gilles shows up at Indian Wells. It's a great draw for him if the Gilles who shows up is the one who plays like he did against Del Potro in Marseille. However, if it's the Gilles who plays like he did the following match against Tsonga then not so much. He could really lose to anyone of the potential match ups each round. Hope he's prepared and injury and pain free and most importantly of all, confident.
Good draw to me is no Mika in the first 2 matches and at R16 he’s supposed to meet Top 4, he got Ferrer, not Murray/Nole/Fed. That sounds good, I’m rather easy to satisfy . Of course, if he’s to spray silly errors left, right and center like he did against Jo, then no easy draw is easy when one plays like crap. But with his normal play style, you know his day is extraordinarily bad when he’s an error machine, shouldn’t happen too often. Then again, looking at this practice video, I'm not so sure
Good draw makes me nervous, can’t help but have higher expectation. Just really hope Gilles doesn’t screw up in the first 2 matches. And I'm also very nervous about Paire being in the way.
BTW, double draw:
Haase/Simon Vs Peya/Soares
Almagro/Petzschner Vs Granollers/Lopez (2)
Good draw to me is no Mika in the first 2 matches and at R16 he’s supposed to meet Top 4, he got Ferrer, not Murray/Nole/Fed. That sounds good, I’m rather easy to satisfy . Of course, if he’s to spray silly errors left, right and center like he did against Jo, then no easy draw is easy when one plays like crap. But with his normal play style, you know his day is extraordinarily bad when he’s an error machine, shouldn’t happen too often. Then again, looking at this practice video, I'm not so sure
Good draw makes me nervous, can’t help but have higher expectation. Just really hope Gilles doesn’t screw up in the first 2 matches. And I'm also very nervous about Paire being in the way.
BTW, double draw:
Haase/Simon Vs Peya/Soares
Almagro/Petzschner Vs Granollers/Lopez (2)
Allez!
I'm surprised he's playing with Haase, when was the last time he played with a non-French player? Good luck!
Well, match starts, there's stream. I'm watching horror, 2 DFs to start the match, error after error, hardly won a pt so far going 0-30 in his 2nd serve game, then another 2 DFs to lose another break 0-3. That's 4 DFs in 2 service games. Maybe that error machine Simon is here. Damnit.
2013 Spring European Clay Season, Allez!
Re: 2013 Winter European Indoors, Allez!
. And I always suspect that he has a bit of an inferior complex when he plays against Jo, on hard court at least. Yesterday, he probably went to the court thinking he has no chance at all, it showed seeing how fast he gave up on the match. (as compared to that Bercy match against Berdych, which he also had a bit of back problem going in - he said he could of pulled out of the previous match if Nishikori didn't beat him to it). But he managed against Berdych no problem bcos he's facing Berdych.
. Of course, if he’s to spray silly errors left, right and center like he did against Jo, then no easy draw is easy when one plays like crap. But with his normal play style, you know his day is extraordinarily bad when he’s an error machine, shouldn’t happen too often. Then again, looking at this practice video, I'm not so sure 
