As a kid in Nice, Gilles Simon had great tennis skills but he kept hearing why he wouldn’t make it as a pro.

Too skinny. Too short.

“He plays OK but he’s too small,” Simon remembers people saying.

But when he was about 10 years old, Simon saw a player who helped him believe those doubters were wrong. The player wasn’t particularly big nor particularly strong. He also didn’t try to outhit his opponents, opting instead to out-hustle and outsmart them. The American would chase down every ball and place his serve against his opponent’s weakness.

Michael Chang would go on to win 34 tour-level titles, including Simon’s home Grand Slam championship, Roland Garros, and reach No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. He also helped Simon believe that he had a future in tennis.

“It helps a lot when you can see a player like him on the court doing so well, playing smartly, being crafty… trying to use his weapons at the maximum level,” Simon told ATPWorldTour.com. “You realise he can do very good things… and it helped me to believe that I could make it also.”

Twenty years later, Simon has more than proved the naysayers wrong. At 6’0”, 154 pounds, he’s hardly the tallest or the biggest ATP World Tour player. Yet few have been as consistent as Simon during the past 15 years.

The right-hander has won 12 ATP World Tour titles and nearly $11 million in prize money. By the end of the season, he could secure his 400^th tour-level match win.

“In tennis, you can play with every type of physique,” he said.

The Frenchman also has won at least one title in eight of the past nine years. He hopes to add another year to that streak this week at the Winston-Salem Open.

Read More: On Seventh Attempt, Fritz Beats Tiafoe In Winston-Salem

Last year as the No. 1 seed, Simon had match point in the third set but lost to Brit Aljaz Bedene 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in the second round.

This year, Simon came to Winston-Salem early to try to get more acclimated to the fast and hot conditions. He arrived here last Thursday and has spent more than three hours on court every day sweating and trying to adapt his flat, baseline game to the quick hard courts.

“For me, I hate to miss, and here you are missing. It’s really hard. The balls are flying,” he said. “I realise I’m struggling a bit here, so that’s why I took the chance to come early and to practise hard and I see already a lot improvement.”

At 31, Simon is firmly in the second half of his career. But his workmanlike style won’t end when he decides to retire. He enjoys watching Belgian David Goffin, 5’11”, 150 pounds; and Japanese Kei Nishikori, 5’10”, 165 pounds. They, like Simon, have had to find success differently than most.

“Nishikori, Goffin they are not mountains,” Simon said, “but they are quite good.”

You could say the same for Simon.

In a meeting of 18-year-old American NextGen stars Monday at the Winston-Salem Open, Taylor Fritz finally got the better of Frances Tiafoe, clinching a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

“I thought I played a really great match from start to finish,” he said. “I didn’t let it get too nervy, which I might have been afraid of closing the match out against him because I never beat him before and I really wanted to so badly. I’m glad with how everything went.”

Fritz had lost to Tiafoe in the six previous meetings of their rivalry – five at the junior level from 2011-14, followed by their first tour-level clash at the BNP Paribas Open earlier this year. On Monday, he capitalised on three of his five break point chances en route to a 63-minute win.

“When I played him in Indian Wells I was thinking about it too much,” he said. “I wanted it way too bad and that just caused me to play a really tight and nervy match. This time I came out with no expectations, not feeling like I should win, not feeling entitled at all to winning the match, and I think that’s what allowed me to play loose and play free and play a good match.”

Fritz, currently a career-high World No. 54, has climbed more than 600 places in the Emirates ATP Rankings in a year and is a lead candidate to be named the 2016 ATP Star Of Tomorrow presented by Emirates. Tiafoe, who claimed his first tour-level win last year as a qualifier in Winston-Salem, has risen 150 spots to No. 124.

“Frances and I were actually talking about that before the match, that it’s crazy where we are right now,” said Fritz. “Neither of us thought we’d be where we are right now, a year later.

“I think this whole group has transitioned really well on the pro tour,” he added, referring to the American NextGen stars. “I think there’s a really long way to go for all of us, but all of us know that, we’re ready put in the work, and we’re all going to push each other. I think soon we’ll all be in these big tournaments playing each other. I think it’ll be a pretty regular thing.”

Fritz next meets Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, the No. 15 seed.

Czech Jiri Vesely, the 2013 ATP Star Of Tomorrow presented by Emirates, will face defending champion and fifth seed Kevin Anderson in the second round. Vesely opened his campaign with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over lucky loser Tim Van Rijthoven.

Novak Djokovic be warned: Andy Murray wants your place atop the Emirates ATP Race To London. After a mid-season surge that has seen him reach seven consecutive finals, including his second Wimbledon title run in July, Murray has the chance at the US Open to do what just three months ago seemed unthinkable: dethrone Novak Djokovic from first place in the Race.

When Djokovic defeated Murray in the Roland Garros final on June 5, the Serb held a 3,225-point lead in the Race. Murray has now cut that to 1,215 points after reaching the final of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati this past Sunday.

At the US Open, Murray is vying to become just the fourth player in the Open Era – Laver (’69), Federer (’04, ’06-‘07) and Djokovic (’05) – to reach all four major finals in the same year. Should Murray win the title he will go to first place in the Race unless Djokovic is the man he beats in the final. If Murray and Djokovic meet for the third time (Australian Open, Roland Garros) in a Grand Slam final this year, Djokovic will still lead the Race by 415 points even if Murray wins the final.

With a US Open title, Murray would also put the ultimate goal in play: the year-end World No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking, which Djokovic is attempting to clinch for the third consecutive year and fifth time overall. Just 16 players have ever finished the year No. 1.

A total of 25 players have held No. 1 during their careers. Interestingly, 24 players have won 600 tour-level matches, a mark Murray passed last week in Cincinnati. Murray is only one of eight players to top 600 match wins without ever ranking No. 1. The others are Guillermo Vilas (929 wins), David Ferrer (683), Arthur Ashe (681), Brian Gottfried (680), Michael Chang (662), Stan Smith (657) and Manuel Orantes (641).

Returning focus to London, Murray and Djokovic are the only two players to have secured their berths at this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held November 13-20 at The O2 arena. The battle for the remaining six spots – which are determined by the Race – took some twists and turns in Cincinnati and will only intensify at Flushing Meadows.

Milos Raonic (4,375 points), third in the Race, and Kei Nishikori (fourth with 3,595 points) have reason to be confident that they will qualify for London. Austrian 22-year-old Dominic Thiem (3,025), who is looking to make his London debut, moved past Rafael Nadal (3,020) in fifth place after a quarter-final showing (l. Raonic) in Cincinnati.

Both players are less than 500 points clear of ninth-placed Tomas Berdych, although the Czech will miss the US Open due to appendicitis, giving both Thiem and Nadal a chance to add a handy buffer inside the Top 8 if they reach the second week.

Sixth-placed Stan Wawrinka (2,820) is 290 points clear of Berdych. French showman Gael Monfils (2,635), who like Thiem is seeking his first berth in London, holds the coveted eighth spot, just 105 points clear of Berdych.

Thrusting himself into London contention last week by claiming his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, Marin Cilic (2,310) this week surges nine places to 10^th in the Race, just 325 points behind eighth-placed Monfils. The US Open champion in 2014 and semi-finalist last year, Cilic has reason to expect that he can leverage his hot form and recent US Open performances to make a deep run at Flushing Meadows and perhaps break into the Top 8 in the Race.

David Goffin (2,130) is tied for 11^th with Roger Federer (who will miss the rest of the season through injury) and is 505 points behind Monfils. The Belgian missed an opportunity last week to press his London claim, as did 13^th placed Nick Kyrgios (1,825), with both players suffering early exits in Cincinnati.

Top seed Richard Gasquet fought for a win in his opening match Tuesday, overcoming Great Britain’s Daniel Evans 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after two hours and 28 minutes at the Winston-Salem Open. 

“It was a tough match for me,” said the Frenchman, who had been sidelined for five weeks with a back injury and made his return last week in Cincinnati. “I think physically I’m not in my best shape. But I know I’m still tough to beat.

“It’s important for me to do this kind of match,” he added. “Everything is possible in this draw.”

After dropping serve late in the second set, World No. 15 Gasquet saved two break points in the third and went ahead a decisive break at 4-2. 

“Tough one; I had chances in the third set,” said Evans. “Obviously he’s a class player and class showed through in the end… I was happy with how I played, just a few too many mistakes at the wrong time.”

Gasquet next faces countryman Stephane Robert, who needed two hours and 21 minutes to battle past No. 13 seed Federico Delbonis 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in another late-night match. 

Donald Young topped another Frenchman, last year’s runner-up Pierre-Hugues Herbert, to advance to the second round. The American, No. 57 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, did not face a break point in the 57-minute match as he won 6-4, 6-1.

 “I was fortunate enough to break early in both sets, so it let me relax,” said Young. “It definitely wasn’t easy and I’m definitely pleased with the win and looking forward to the next round.” The American will next face No. 14 seed Marcos Baghdatis for the third time. Their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry is tied at 1-1.

Fourth seed Steve Johnson will face Lukas Rosol in the second round after the Czech beat Victor Estrella Burgos 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, while sixth seed Sam Querrey will open against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez after the Spaniard defeated Damir Dzumhur 7-6(7), 6-1. 

Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, the No. 12 seed, made his way through to the third round after countryman Mikhail Youzhny withdrew with a leg injury following his first-round match. Youzhny had defeated Australian qualifier James Duckworth 7-6(8), 1-6, 6-3.

During his first visit to Winston-Salem, Frenchman Richard Gasquet will try to achieve what his fellow countrymen have been unable to do during their debut years at the tournament. Gasquet, the top seed, will try to win the title and gain his second ATP World Tour title of the season.

In 2011, the first year of the tournament, Julien Benneteau started the tradition of French players coming to Winston-Salem. Benneteau qualified and reached the final before falling to American John Isner. In 2012, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the semi-finals before also losing to eventual champion Isner.

The next year, 15^th seed Gael Monfils retired in the final against Austrian Jurgen Melzer down 6-3, 2-1. Top seed Gilles Simon bowed out in the second round to Brit Aljaz Bedene last year.

“They all told me it’s a very nice tournament to play,” Gasquet said of his French buddies.

Tournament director Bill Oakes said having Benneteau and Tsonga play at the tournament in its early years was key to bringing more French players to the tournament.

“The rest of the French players saw that I think that really made it easier for them to understand how we take care of the guys here,” Oakes said. “I think our fans have really appreciated all of them and really enjoyed watching them play.”

Gasquet isn’t quite thinking about one-upping his countrymen, though; the 30 year old is simply craving more matches. He retired after six games because of a back injury during his fourth-round match at Wimbledon and had to miss the next five weeks trying to recover.

Gasquet returned to the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last week and prevailed past countryman Adrian Mannarino 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-1. But he fell in the second round to South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-4.

“That’s why it’s important for me to be here. I didn’t play so much – just two matches in Cincinnati, so I need to play,” Gasquet told ATPWorldTour.com.

Before his injury, the 15-year ATP World Tour veteran had been enjoying another consistent season.

In February, Gasquet won his 13^th career title and his third consecutive at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. In May, during his 13^th time playing Roland Garros, the Frenchman reached the quarter-finals for the first time. He succumbed to eventual finalist Andy Murray in four sets.

Gasquet is hoping to regain that form in North Carolina. He faces Brit Daniel Evans for the first time on Monday evening. The 26-year-old Evans won his first-round match in Winston-Salem and reached a career high of No. 60 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last week.

“It’s always difficult to stop for such a long time [and] come back,” Gasquet said. “I’m feeling better. I have no more injuries… Now I need to practise and play more matches.”

American tennis fans should be “optimistic” about the group of young Americans rising through the Emirates ATP Rankings and winning ATP World Tour matches as teenagers, former American champions Jim Courier, Andy Roddick and James Blake said on Sunday at the Winston-Salem Open.

But fans should resist setting any lofty expectations for the group just yet. Instead, they’d be wise to enjoy the group’s attempted climb to the top.

“I think they should be optimistic,” Roddick said of fans. “I prefer that term over expecting anything.”

The U.S. currently has four players close to the Top 20 of the Emirates ATP Rankings: No. 21 Steve Johnson, No. 22 John Isner, No. 27 Jack Sock and No. 28 Sam Querrey.

But it’s been six years since an American won an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title (Roddick, Miami 2010). He and James Blake also were the last Americans to claim spots in the Top 5 – Roddick, August 2009; Blake, January 2007.

The former champions are hopeful for a turnaround, though. They see a hungry group of young Americans eager to bring their country back to the top of the ATP World Tour.

Leading the way is #NextGen star Taylor Fritz, who will make his Winston-Salem singles debut on Monday. In the past 12 months, Fritz, a strong candidate for this year’s ATP Star Of Tomorrow presented by Emirates, has climbed 624 spots in the Emirates ATP Rankings to No. 54.

In Winston-Salem, he’ll look for revenge against another up-and-coming American: 18 year old Frances Tiafoe, who has hiked 151 spots in the past 12 months to No. 124. The two have played four times, including three times in juniors and at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells earlier this season. Tiafoe has won every time.

“I’ve never won so I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” Fritz said.

The list of young Americans continues: 18 year old Reilly Opelka reached the semi-finals of the BB&T Atlanta Open earlier this month; 19 year old Tommy Paul won his first tour-level match earlier this season in Houston; 18 year old Stefan Kozlov knocked off Johnson in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June; 20 year old Noah Rubin is ranked No. 193; and 18 year old Michael Mmoh won the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships a week ago.

“We’ve had some very good players pop through [but[ this is the first time we’ve had this amount of depth at that level. I’m very hopeful, very optimistic,” said Courier, who was in Winston-Salem with Roddick and Blake for an exhibition on Sunday evening. “I think they can play off of each other, share some of the pressure, share some of the expectations and also push each other.”

The American tennis generation Courier grew up in included himself, former World No. 4, former World No. 2 Michael Chang and former World No. 1’s Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. They all benefited from developing as a group, Courier said.

“We were able to push each other and really propel each other to greater heights,” he said.

Roddick, Blake and Mardy Fish also pushed each other and shared a “healthy jealousy”, Roddick said. He’s talked with most of the up-and-comers and is optimistic because he hasn’t noticed a sense of entitlement that has accompanied past American tennis prospects.

“They know that they have to earn their place and I think that’s a great thing,” he said.

It’s far too early, though, to set specific expectations for them, Blake said. Their bodies have yet to go through a full season on the ATP World Tour. They also lack significant match experience against some of the game’s best players.

“I want to see who’s going to progress because right now they’re all still pretty raw,” Blake said.

Fritz said he believes he and others will produce results that all American tennis fans will enjoy. It just might take a little bit.

“The one thing to say to the fans is it’s probably going to take time. And just let it happen. Just let it happen,” Fritz said. “This group is going to be really good. As long as not too many expectations and not too much pressure is put on this whole group, I think we’re going to have a lot of Top 50 players and a lot of Top 20 players.”

Eric Butorac has been playing tennis for the past 30 years. He’s played more than 500 doubles matches during his 14-year ATP World Tour career. He’s also won 18 ATP World Tour doubles titles.

But on Sunday at the Winston-Salem Open, the 35 year old experienced a first for his tennis career: Butorac plopped himself in a wheelchair and tried to play wheelchair tennis.

“Challenging” was how Butorac, No. 45 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, described playing the sport. Hitting the ball was no problem, he said. But he often forgot he was in a wheelchair and that he first had to move to the ball, and then hit it.

“We don’t ever have to think about moving towards the ball, so that was another step,” he said.

The doubles champion also learned that his usual tactics don’t work as well in wheelchair tennis.

“I tried to approach the net one time and that’s completely the wrong strategy,” he said. “But it was fun to try and have a new respect for the game.”

Butorac and his Winston-Salem doubles partner, fellow American Scott Lipsky, participated in the Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Foundation (OPAF) wheelchair tennis clinic, which was made possible with grant funding from USTA Wheelchair Tennis. The clinic was held at the Wake Forest Indoor Tennis Center, next door to the outdoor courts of the Winston-Salem Open.

“[I] definitely respect these guys for doing what they do,” said Lipsky, who helped shag balls while Butorac played. “It’s amazing to see how good they actually are.”

Chris Gallal, a 17 year old from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been playing wheelchair tennis for the past three months and participated in the clinic. He was impressed that Butorac hopped in the wheelchair. “It was a very nice experience and I really enjoyed it,” he said.

Robin Burton, executive director of OPAF, said the participation from the ATP World Tour players helped bridge the gap between able-bodied tennis and wheelchair tennis, which are usually two entirely separate sports, she said.

The longtime coach who helped run the clinic also appreciated the support from the ATP World Tour veterans. Frank Adams, who’s been coaching wheelchair tennis for the past 20 years, said Butorac and Lipsky’s participation will inspire wheelchair athletes for months to come.

“I think it’s outstanding to have [ATP World Tour] players participate in something so significant… Being willing to go out there and play wheelchair tennis before they start their tournament, not a lot of players would do that,” Adams said. “I think it inspires everyone who got a chance to see them to take that risk.”