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2/4/12 6:39 PM | Ricky Dimon
Gael Monfils comes back from a set deficit to defeat Gilles Simon in the Montpellier semis on Saturday. Monfils will go up against Tomas Berdych in Sunday's title match.
Gael Monfils saved a match point in the 12th game of the second set and eventually outlasted Gilles Simon 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in the semifinals of the Open Sud de France on Saturday. Monfils double-faulted a whopping 11 times but struck 18 aces to advance after two hours and 25 minutes.
The world No. 13 struggled in all facets of the game throughout the first set, double-faulting three times and winning a mere 29 percent of his second-serve points. That allowed Simon to earn two breaks of serve, including the set-clinching break at 5-4.
Set two provided plenty of dramatics for the French crowd. Monfils saved a total of eight break points, including seven at 3-4 to keep himself within striking distance. Simon's eighth chance was a match point at 6-5, but Monfils again came up clutch and forced a tiebreaker. Montpellier's No. 3 seed took it seven points to four to force a third.
Despite the squandered opportunities in the second set and multiple deficits in the third, Simon did not go away without a fight. The world No. 12 twice battled back from breaks, getting back on track at 1-3 and 2-4. Simon, though, finally succumbed to the pressure while serving at 4-5 and Monfils capitalized on his second match point to clinch victory.
Both players finished with 75 percent of their first-serve points won and 115 total points. Monfils is through to his 17th career ATP final, in which he will face top-seeded Tomas Berdych.
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