The crowd inside Rod Laver Arena today got their money’s worth and then some in Novak Djokovic’s match with Gilles Simon today. Time after time, Simon refused to fade away and battled his way back into the match to the very end. The world #1 eventually held off the French resistance after over 4 and a half hours in a grueling 6-3 6-7(1) 6-4 4-6 6-3 win.
The match began routine enough, with Novak holding at love for 1-0. Simon, who is known to have epic long rallies with his countryman Monfils, chose to be more aggressive coming into the match today, which seemed to backfire right away as he faced 2 break points. As he would do throughout the rest of this epic 5 setter, he fought back to hold his first service game. On his next service game however, he again faced 3 more break chances, and this time Novak secured the lead for 3-1. In retaliation, Simon went for big returns of serve, and the first of many unforced errors from Djokovic gave the break right back. In fact, in very uncharacteristic fashion the Serbian committed an astounding 100 unforced errors today. Simon then reverted back to his usual counter punching style, winning a huge long rally to hold for 3-3, back on serve. This lack of pace from the Frenchman was plaguing his Serbian opponent, who started to struggle with his form, showing obvious signs of nerves. Yet another long game ensued, where Novak managed to hold for 4-3 after several deuces. The next game found Simon down 2 break points once more, and this time he showed his uncharacteristic side by going for a big forehand, which he missed long. What should have been a quick game to serve out the set, Novak’s nerves showed prominently in his footwork and shot selection, and he faced break point at 5-3. Unofortunately for Simon, who would continue to threaten the upset for the remainder of the match, he failed to capitalize on this crucial opportunity by dumping a backhand into the net. This slight opening was enough for Djokovic to wrap up the set. The match was already an hour long.
In set 2, both men continued to struggle with their form, especially in Novak’s case. It looked like the players were playing not to lose, trading rally balls over the net in hopes of an error. In the 3rd game they came in the form of 0-40 on Simon’s serve. The world #15 stayed determined, saving all 3 break chances to deuce. The next point was quite long, until the higher ranked player missed wide. But Simon was unable to dial in on his forehand, and it was back to deuce once more. This would turn out to be a pattern for the rest of the match. After a lucky net cord for ad in, Simon finally hit a big serve to hold. It was only 2-1. His next service game was taken to deuce as well, and once again he managed to hold for 3-2. On the other side of the net Novak continued to make errors, often going to the defensive slice or a dropshot in the middle of the point as if trying to end it quickly. Simon merely threatened the break however, failing to convert his chances. Finally Novak looked more comfortable in the 8th game, holding for 4-4 in a much shorter game. Just as quickly he went back to his erroring ways, missing a routine forehand long to give Simon deuce. Then deuce again. Then deuce #3. Finally, after deuce #6, Simon stood his ground for 5-4. Just as telling as his unforced errors today was Novak’s break points won, which was a dismal 24%. His game grew seemingly more tight as the match went on. Lucky for him, the Frenchman kept missing on the big points. And so we go to tiebreak. Here Novak went for more dropshots, which he missed giving the mini break to Simon for 0-2. A very long rally then unfolded, and finally Simon decided to pull the trigger first with a big backhand crosscourt for a winner. Novak helped out even more by coughing up another unforced error to make it 0-4. Then yet another missed dropshot for 0-5. It was looking ugly for him. The tiebreak ended with Djokovic dumping a return into the net. He had won just one point.
With the match back at even, the world #1 finally showed signs of his normal form in set 3 by grabbing an early break for 2-0. Then he continued the momentum by holding at love for 3-0. Simon played catch up, holding the next game for 1-3. Back to his error prone mode, Novak hits a wild forehand for 0-40. He then missed again right away to gift the break back at 2-3. The Frenchman thanked him by saving break points in his own service game to level it at 3-3. Cutting down on the errors momentarily, Novak holds the next game for 4-3, back on serve. For his service game, Simon delighted the crowd with a backhand winner down the line, followed by a cross court pass to make it 4-4. With the pressure mounting towards the end of the set, Novak finally started hitting with more pace. When Simon missed a forehand to give him set point chance, the world #1 wasted no time to take the lead 2 sets to 1.
Boris Becker was starting to show his emotions by the start of set 4, and Novak responded in kind by hitting bigger and bigger. Both men stayed on serve to begin the set. In the 6th game, Simon double faulted to face break point, but Novak’s forehand landed long. Like so many points throughout this match, each player failed to take advantage and so Simon held for 3-3. By the 8th game, Novak seemed out of sorts, wasting challenges as if to buy more time between points. He looked visibly upset on court by this point, the frustration clear. At 30-40 he missed another forehand wide to give Simon the break for 5-4. The meltdown continued as Novak missed another dropshot. The Frenchman did not make things easy for himself though, and allowed the game back to deuce. Once more, the Serb went for another dropshot. This time Simon took advantage. The match was going the distance.
Novak served to begin the deciding set, and held for 1-0. With more forehand errors off Novak’s racket at 40-30 Simon also held, 1-1. A good 4 hours into the match, Simon’s ball machine like consistency was breaking down, and he overhit a backhand long, followed by yet another to give the first break for 1-3. Novak seized the moment like a champion, serving big to hold for 4-1. In his next service game, Simon quickly faced yet more break points. Imitating Novak, he then hit a forehand long to make it a double break for 1-5. But whereas everyone expected the match to be over, the French ball machine made a last push. A wise challenge on a sideline call gave Simon several break chances. He converted on the 2nd for 2-5. The crowd was very much joining in the French resistance now. As if riding the wave, he held for 3-5 after yet even more crucial challenges. Even Novak was shaking his head at the referee for the bad calls. Finally, the world #1 gathered himself and served out the match.
Afterwards he said “I am just glad to get through this one”, and speaking of Simon: “he’s a counter puncher, one of the best on tour if not the best”. He faces Nishikori in the quarters, to which he quipped “whoever loses, Uniqlo wins.”
