ATP veteran Gilles Simon joins select company with landmark career century

Gilles Simon has joined a select group of players by claiming a 500th career ATP win to reach the third round of Roland Garros during his final campaign at his home Slam. 

Before today, in the nearly 50-year history of the ATP, only 55 men had secured 500 or more tour level victories. 

Today, world number 158 Simon, aged 37, who only made it into Roland Garros thanks to a wildcard, became the 56th in that club as he ousted Steve Johnson 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).

The victory was also a 90th career main draw Slam match win and 23rd career win at his home Major.

The former world number six is the 11th active ATP player to cross 500 wins.

He follows contemporaries Feliciano Lopez, Gael Monfils, Stan Wawrinka, Fernando Verdasco, Marin Cilic, Richard Gasquet, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Each of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have more than 1,000 tour level victories to their name.

Federer is second overall with 1,251 career wins, just behind Jimmy Connors’ tally of 1,274.

Simon turned pro in 2002 before making his ATP tour debut in Metz, France in October 2004 as a 19-year-old.

The veteran has since claimed 14 career ATP titles and two Masters 1000 finals, in Madrid in 2008 and Shanghai in 2014, losing to Andy Murray and Roger Federer respectively on those occasions.

Simon recently announced he will retire at the end of this ATP season.

He is one of two French 37-year-olds experiencing their last ever Roland Garros, with former world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retiring from the sport after his opening round loss to Casper Ruud.

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