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8/19/11 1:33 AM | Ricky Dimon
Gilles Simon fails to finish the job in straight sets but he recovers to beat David Ferrer on Thursday in Cincinnati. Simon advances to a quarterfinal clash against Andy Murray.
Gilles Simon booked a return trip to the Cincinnati quarterfinals on Thursday, but not before a massive struggle.
Simon blew five match points in the second set but righted the ship and held off David Ferrer 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 in the third round of the Western & Southern Open. The world No. 12 needed three hours and eight minutes to set up a quarterfinal matchup against Andy Murray.
Simon had won only five total games against Ferrer in their two previous meetings, but it was clear right from the start that this would be a far more competitive affair. Both men took care of their serves without too much difficulty throughout the first nine games of the match. Serving to stay alive in the opening frame of play at 4-5, Ferrer finally cracked and he double-faulted down set point.
A tense second set saw a total of nine break points thwarted, without a single break of serve despite long baseline battles being the norm. Ferrer fought off seven break chances, five of which were match points. The sixth-ranked Spaniard saved three at 4-5, including one when Simon missed a sitting backhand right on top of the net with his opponent well out of position. Ferrer survived two more at 5-6 and forced a tiebreaker, which he dominated seven points to three.
Simon quickly regained the momentum in set three, but he again had trouble playing from ahead. Cincinnati's No. 10 seed gave back an immediate break for 1-1 and gave back another break while serving at 3-2.
Also a quarterfinalist in 2009, Simon earned his third break of the set at 4-4 and this time--although he made it interesting--he managed to consolidate the advantage. Ferrer seized a 0-40 lead, but Simon came up with clutch serves and won five straight points, clinching victory with his seventh ace.
Ferrer wrapped up his effort with five aces and three double-faults while Simon double-faulted twice to go along with his seven aces.
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