MELBOURNE — Gilles Simon will carry the distinction of being the first man to prise a set off Novak Djokovic at this year's Australian Open but the lion-hearted Frenchman was crushed after going down in a five-set classic on Sunday.
Simon played a sublime match, returning with venom and scrambling hard for every ball before the defending champion and world number one found another gear to close it out 6-3 6-7(1) 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the twilight at Rod Laver Arena.
"It's always a bad feeling when you lose in five," 31-year-old Simon told reporters.
"Always like when you play so long, you feel so many things are happening on the court.