Beaten in the first round of qualifying, the 37-year-old Niçois, retired at the end of the year, will not play a 16th and last Wimbledon.
Gilles Simon, who will end his career at the end of the year, dreamed of a 16e and last participation in the big picture of the mythical British Grand Slam. His favorite tournament. It failed and failed for the quarter-finalist of the 2015 edition (defeat against Federer). Seeded 12 of these qualifications disputed in Roehampton, not very far from the grass courts of the All England Club, the 163e world was outclassed by Croatian Duje Ajdukovic (6-2, 6-3), 235e world player in just 1 hour 06 minutes.
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A disappointment for the 37-year-old, who on his way to his pretty Roland-Garros (an elimination in the 3rd round after notably knocking down Pablo Carreno Busta) had come out of qualifying at ‘S-Hertogenbosch before losing on the wire in the round of 16 against Daniil Medvedev. The former world number 6, who went to Roland-Garros, his 500e victory on the circuit, more than Tsonga who retired (467) or even Yannick Noah (478), will say goodbye to the professional circuit in Paris during the Rolex Paris Masters in November.
