In a recent press conference, French tennis player Gilles Simon, also known as “Monf,” responded to questions about the pattern of top players losing matches despite having match points. Simon challenged the notion of curses and suggested that the media’s speculations were unfair.
Simon pointed out that players like Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, and Richard Gasquet have also experienced similar situations where they lost matches after having match points. While acknowledging that there may be tension in such situations, Simon dismissed the idea that older players are more fatigued and prone to losing crucial points.
He cited Gasquet’s match against Cerundolo as an example, mentioning Gasquet’s remarkable comeback and the pressure he faced against the 13th-ranked player in the world. Simon playfully chided the media for being “mean” in their analysis.
Simon also mentioned Murray’s match against De Minaur, highlighting De Minaur’s exceptional ranking of 12th in the world and Murray’s previous unsuccessful attempts to defeat him. Regarding Stan Wawrinka’s match, Simon admitted that he didn’t see the match point as it was late at night.
In conclusion, Simon emphasized that losing to a top-ranked player, such as the 20th or 21st in the world, is nothing to be ashamed of. He suggested that the narrative of curses and fatigue affecting older players should be reevaluated.
Published on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 08:45.
