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Lodnon - Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Xavier Malisse defeated Gilles Simon in straight sets on Thursday, but admitted he supported the Frenchman's outspoken opposition to equal prize money.
Simon, the world No 13, caused an uproar at the All England Club by reigniting the thorny issue of equal cash rewards, claiming that the men's game is more attractive and that by playing five sets, rather than the three sets played by women, they deserve the rewards.
"I share his thought, but I'd rather not get into it. I'd rather he gets into it," said Belgian 31-year-old Malisse.
"I've gotten into too many things in my life, so I'm done with that."
But Malisse, the world No 75, said that such arguments are put to one side once the players are on court.
"He has his opinion. Once we're on the court I don't think we think about prize money. We try to win and play the best possible," he said.
"But I think it's his opinion. But I can't say more because it's a thought that he has, and I respect it."
Malisse won their encounter 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) on Thursday.
