Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @Kooyong in Melbourne

Written by: Staff on 28th December 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @Kooyong in Melbourne

epa03929829 Gilles Simon of France serves the ball to his compatriot Nicolas Mahut of France during their second round match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Gilles Simon will replace injured Janko Tipsarevic at the Kooyong club Australian Open tune-up. The former No. 6 from France comes into the eight-man field for the January 8-11 exhibition after Serb Tipsarevic was forced to withdraw with a long-running ruptured tendon in his heel.

Simon will play after competing at the Brisbane ATP event which begins on Sunday. “I’m very happy to be preparing for the Australian Open at Kooyong this year,” said Simon. It’s a great event and perfect preparation.”

Simon joins a field which includes top 10 contenders Tomas Berdych, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Richard Gasquet along with Kei Nishikori, holder Lleyton Hewitt, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and Grigor Dimitrov.

Tipsarevic has been fighting his heel problem since October. “Since injuring my heel three months ago I have had a tough time. I was hopeful of recovering in time – I enjoyed playing at Kooyong last year the fans were great and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. But my heel needs time to recover so I am sorry that I will not be able to play. I will be working hard to get over this injury and get back to playing tennis quickly.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Australian Open, Brisbane ATP, Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Simon, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Janko Tipsarevic, Kei Nishikori, kooyong club, Lleyton Hewitt, Richard Gasquet, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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TennisReporters says:

December 28, 2013 at 4:12 pm

MT Cant see Janko playing AO @10sBalls_com Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @ Kooyong in Melbourne – http://t.co/mHlnMkqIgb
TheTennisTalker says:

December 28, 2013 at 4:13 pm

RT @TennisReporters: MT Cant see Janko playing AO @10sBalls_com Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @ Kooyong in Melbourne – http://t.co/mHl…
tenniswriters says:

December 28, 2013 at 4:14 pm

RT @TennisReporters: MT Cant see Janko playing AO @10sBalls_com Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @ Kooyong in Melbourne – http://t.co/mHl…
prettyembrace says:

December 28, 2013 at 4:20 pm

RT @TennisReporters: MT Cant see Janko playing AO @10sBalls_com Gilles Simon to Replace Tipsarevic @ Kooyong in Melbourne – http://t.co/mHl…