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3/28/09 1:23 AM | Kelli DeMario
Top seeds Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and James Blake each secured straight-sets safe passage into the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Friday.
Gilles Simon def. Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-2
Seventh seed Simon converted six of 14 break-point chances, defeating veteran Australian wildcard Lleyton Hewitt in an hour and 25 minutes. The Frenchman battled through some shaky moments on serve, saving eight of 10 break points while winning just 48% of his second-serve points. Simon struck seven aces in the contest on his way to facing Rainer Schuettler in round three. Schuettler dismissed Jarkko Nieminen in three sets late Friday evening.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Augustin Calleri 6-1, 6-1
No. 10 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga cruised into the third round, crushing Argentine Agustin Calleri in 54 minutes. The hard-hitting Frenchman needed just 21 minutes to build a two-break, 5-1 lead in set one. The world No. 11 continued his terrific play in the second set, never facing a break point. Tsonga turned in a near-perfect set, converting three of three break-point chances. The Frenchman enjoyed a stellar day on serve, winning 92% of his first-serve points. He will take on American qualifier Robert Kendrick in the third round. Kendrick won his second-round contest early Friday afternoon, dispatching the 23rd seed from Sweden, Robin Soderling.
James Blake def. Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4
13th seed James Blake clocked eight aces on his way to dismissing Julien Benneteau of France. The American saved three of three break-point chances despite a dismal 45% of first serves made in set one. A stronger second set followed, with Blake securing two breaks of the Frenchman’s serve. The American cleaned up his own serve, winning eight of nine second-serve points. The world No. 14 is set to battle seed No. 21 Tomas Berdych in the third round. Berdych survived a tough three-set match, defeating Mikhail Youzhny in the second round.
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I was front row for every point of Simon-Hewitt. Hewitt broke serve in the opening game of the match and Simon then won ELEVEN straight games.
Simon was playing UNBELIEVABLE tennis.
RickyDimon , 3/28/09 3:21 AM
Go wii (I mean Joaquin) go! He's extremely fun to watch.
Rafterfan , 3/28/09 3:40 AM
Lucky you Ricky, no transmission to UK. However, hooray for Simon if he's getting some form back he's one of my favourite players, he covers the court like a little dynamo.
deuce , 3/28/09 8:12 AM
orion, pfft indeeed! ;)
janhavi , 3/28/09 8:30 AM
Wow, Ricky, lucky you. Especially envious b/c there hasn't been coverage (editorial, pls?) and I really wanted to see that.
Gilles back on a hot streak, perhaps?
mara2 , 3/28/09 11:29 AM
ohhh cheeezzzzze,
Hewitt streamrolled by Gilles. Have fun out there Ricky!
Raindrops , 3/28/09 11:56 AM
We'll see if it leads to a hot streak, but it was definitely one of the Top 5 or 10 performances I've seen live.
Only Mathieu (and of course Fed and probably Djoker) would have been competitive with Simon on Friday (of the people I saw). Mathieu was just incredible in the third set against Baggy.
RickyDimon , 3/28/09 1:06 PM
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Will be fun to watch Blake-Berdych. Would be more fun if söderling didnt wander off again. Dismissing Berdych 1 and 1 3 days ago and going out to kendrick now pfff....
orion , 3/28/09 2:06 AM