By Scoop Malinowski
Status: ATP no. 158. Winner of 14 career ATP singles titles. Highest ranking was no. 6 in 2009.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 154
DOB: December 27, 1984 In: Nice, France
Tennis Inspirations: “There was some players I liked to watch. It was Marat Safin. Michael Chang when I was young. Because I was a small guy like him and I really liked him as a player. My favorite French player was Cedric Pioline.”
Nickname: “Gillou.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to play video games, watch movies, rollerblading, and when I have some time I like to play golf.”
Musical Tastes: “Metallica, AC/DC, rock and roll.”
First Tennis Memory: “The first match was in Marseilles. I was 18. Against Thomas Johansson.”
Favorite Meal: “McDonalds. McBacon.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “Think about just the game I will play in the next few minutes.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “The victory against Nadal in the semifinal of Madrid (7-6 in the third set, 8-6 in the tiebreaker, in 2008).”
Most Painful Moment: “Maybe the final, same tournament.”
Favorite Tournaments: “Roland Garros and Marseilles.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Dmitri Tursunov [laughs].”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Tsonga and Monfils.”
Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Guillermo Canas and Rafa Nadal.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “The penalty point when it was Safin against (Felix) Mantilla in Roland Garros. He pulled his short down. I was on the court as a spectator. It was so very funny. I was sad though because he had the penalty point and I think he didn’t deserve it. Because it was really funny.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Maybe Youzhny against Almagro in Miami, when he hit his head with his racquet. There was some blood and he had to stop. He was feeling a little bit small on the court.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Andy Murray. Because I like his game, because he has a different game than the other ones and he’s just playing on court so I like this.”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Golf and handball.”
Worst Blown Lead: “Against Monaco in Casablanca, my first quarterfinal. I was like no. 150 in the ranking. Was in qualies, I qualified. I was in quarterfinal. Finally I lost to him with two match points.”
Best Comeback: “Maybe against Tsonga, it was 6-3 for him in the third set in the tiebreak. 6-3 on serve for him. Three match points. And I finally won 8-6.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Not easy questions [laughs]! I feel just, I don’t know, just to be happy. Just yeah, when people are happy.”
ATP · French Open · Gilles Simon · Roland Garros
