Aus Open: French veteran Gilles Simon presents frustrating hurdle for Aussie Nick Kyrgios in Round 2
He’s frustrated Federer and found a way against Rafa. Now a Frenchman in the twilight of his Grand Slam career is set to give Aussie star Nick Kyrgios a run of his money in round two in Melbourne.
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Few players drive Roger Federer to the point of headshaking distraction.
Gilles Simon has, and does.
At 35, the Frenchman is now well into the grand slam twilight zone but, even in his tennis dotage, he remains a formidable Australian Open obstacle for Nick Kyrgios.
Federer and Simon have clashed nine times with, predictably, the Swiss holding sway 7-2.
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But the ledger barely reflects the just how tough Simon can be with his penchant of drawing out contests, turning sprints into marathons.
“He brings something different to the match every time he plays,” Federer reflecting on a five-set ordeal against Simon at Melbourne Park in 2011.
“He can play soft, he can play hard, he can counterpunch really well.
“He's one of the quickest guys out there and he returns really, really well. I think he's just a different kind of a player.
“The thing against Gilles, victory is in my racquet because I’m the aggressor.
“He let’s me play and he likes to defend, so I like that kind of a match up where I control if I’m going to win or lose.
“He’s beaten me twice, Rafa (Nadal) before, other players before at the very top. He’s got something special in his game that really can be very tricky for us.
“I think obviously he raises his game against the best players.
“The better the ball he gets the better he plays, really.”
Kyrgios and Simon clashed in Washington last year when the Australian took the honours en route to the title.
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Looking ahead to this clash, Kyrgios knows exactly what awaits.
“That’s gonna be a tough battle,” he said after downing Italian Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets.
“I'm going to do all the things right tomorrow, recover, go again.
“Hopefully I can keep serving well. Hopefully I can win more sets.
“I'm just playing a lot more than myself. I've said it before, so... There's not necessarily added pressure. I feel like I'm playing for a lot of people (affected by fires).
“I felt like I was very focused today. Every match I've played this year, I've been pretty good. It's probably because of everything going on.”
Originally published as Aus Open: French veteran Gilles Simon presents frustrating hurdle for Aussie Nick Kyrgios in Round 2