Despite their 17-year age gap, Harold Mayot decided not to let himself be impressed. Facing Gilles Simon (58th), Thierry Tulasne's young protégé, recent winner of the Australian Open Juniors, was determined to give it his all and honour the wild card he had been awarded. It will not be easy against another Frenchman like Gilles Simon, who has already won the tournament twice and has been playing in Marseille for 15 years, just like at home.
Despite some good opposition, the first set was finally won by Gillou, who concluded with a masterful forehand passing (6/4). But in front of his buddy Arthur Cazaux and his brother Arthur, Harold Mayot reacted at the beginning of the second set.
At 1-1, the Messinian, the world's number one junior, won a break point with a long backhand, before going on to win (2-1). But with experience at his disposal, Gilles Simon managed to raise his game to break and take his opponent to the tie-break. At 4-0 in the tie-break, all bets were off.
By winning his ticket for the second round 6/4 7/6(3) in 1h56, Gilles Simon pocketed his 27th victory at the Open 13 Provence. " I always come back here with pleasurehe said after his match. Today I stayed focused and quite calm and it went well. But I hope I can do even better. "
In the next round, Gilles Simon, a two-time winner in Marseille, will face the winner of the final match of the evening between 2018 winner and No. 5 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia and Slovenian Aljaz Bedene.
