After a solid start to the match, Nice’s Gilles Simon (ranked 59th) eventually conceded in three sets to the American Tommy Paul (ranked 55th) in the first round of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000.
Visibly tense at the start of the match, Nice’s Gilles Simon managed to showcase his technique to outwit Tommy Paul (ranked 55th in the world) in the first set. The American then seemed bewildered by the precision of the Frenchman.
Just when he seemed to have taken control of the match, Simon eventually lost his grip. Despite showing strong service games in the second set, his performance faltered. His opponent, who had raised his level of serving and responded better to the long rallies that are Simon’s trademark, allowed Paul to win the second set. Frustration was evident from the French side: “Even if I’m exhausted, I’m not giving up!” he shouted in a closed-door Bercy.
Those words seemed to bear fruit in the final set, as Gilles Simon quickly took advantage to lead 3-0. One could legitimately think victory was within his grasp. However, frustration arose again after a forehand ended in the net just as he saved three break-back points. “I don’t feel it, I don’t feel it, I don’t feel it!” the local player exclaimed once more. Very tense, he was no longer able to regain his composure and ended up losing six consecutive games, granting the victory to the American, despite Paul being the underdog (3-6, 6-3, 6-3).
Thus ends the tournament journey for the world’s 59th-ranked player, who is experiencing a rocky end to the season. Tommy Paul, on the other hand, will face the Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the next round.
