French veteran Gilles Simon taking break from tennis tour
PARIS (AP) — Gilles Simon will step away from the tennis tour for an undetermined period of time because he said his heart wasn’t in it right now.
The 36-year-old Frenchman wrote on Twitter on Friday that mental health is also a concern.
“With my heart not being in it in terms of traveling and playing in these conditions, I unfortunately have to take a break in order to preserve myself mentally," Simon wrote. "Hopefully my morale picks up as soon as possible.”
Simon achieved a best ranking of sixth in 2009 but is currently ranked 68th. He won the last of his 14 career ATP titles in 2018.
He was routed 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 by Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the Australian Open this month.
Simon did not say whether he is considering retirement.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
HEADLINES
- Alcaraz earns another comfortable win in Madrid
- Nadal beats De Minaur in Madrid as top-seeded Sinner, Swiatek advance
- Madrid Open roundup: Sabalenka ekes out 3-setter, Rublev ends skid
- Nadal cruises past American teen in 1st round of Madrid Open
- French Open to inaugurate 2nd retractable roof ahead of Paris Olympics