The Scot had the higher hand to start the night and regarded poised for an easy victory after taking the opening set.
However Frenchman Simon staged a comeback, rallying again from a 5-3 deficit and profitable 4 video games in a row to say the second.
And veteran Simon, who is about to retire after this event, took the ultimate set to maintain his profession alive for no less than yet another match, profitable 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Murray broke Simon’s serve within the second sport earlier than discovering himself down 40-0 in sport three.
He quickly regrouped, spinning a sideline-hugging forehand and saving three break factors to increase his benefit.
Simon minimize the deficit, holding Murray to like to make it 4-2, however the Scot replied in form because the Frenchman was unable to submit any factors in sport seven.
It was 5-3 when Murray started to rattle in entrance of the vocal residence crowd, double-faulting for the third time within the set to open the sport for Simon, who took full benefit and banked his first break of the match.
One final dance: Simon is about to retire after the event
/ Getty PhotosSimon fended off the primary set level with a smash and tried the identical shot to stave off the second however overpowered it handy Murray the set and one other break.
Murray was visibly pissed off, hitting his racquet on the bottom when, all issues sq. at 1-1, his forehand hit the web. Once more, Simon capitalised on the error to interrupt the Scot’s serve, however Murray obtained the break again instantly to stage the set earlier than pulling forward.
And it was Murray who had the higher hand on the finish of a 24-shot rally, first with an over-the-shoulder shot then a well-placed forehand flick from the baseline, although the Frenchman finally levelled issues at three video games apiece.
Murray gained the following and earned a vital break level to make it 5-3 earlier than Simon broke again.
The momentum started to swing within the Frenchman’s favour, Simon making it 5-5 and happening a 10-point unanswered run en path to breaking Murray for a fourth time, then rapidly clinching the set to the roar of the Parisian crowd.
These followers appeared to begin getting below Murray’s pores and skin as Simon earned the primary break of the ultimate set to make it 2-1 and what had as soon as regarded like a possible straight-sets victory for Murray advanced right into a dogged battle.
And by the tip, for simply the third time in 19 conferences, Simon prevailed and can play on, in entrance of an elated residence crowd, no less than as soon as extra.
Further reporting from PA
