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3/13/10 3:38 AM | James Munoz
World's #21 Gilles Simon and battle tested qualifier Brian Dabul to meet in the second round at BNP Paribas Open
The French have not had much success lately in Indian Wells, but with strong fans support Simon is ready to make his mark. Having skipped the Davis Cup action last weekend , Simon is better rested and prepared for his fourth trip to the desert. The slow hard courts at the BNP Paribas Open suit the variety and playmaking ability of Simon and his toughness will be needed to overcome his qualifier opponent.
For Simon, finding his form is critical, especially early in the tournament. As an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, there are no easy matches. Last year Simon failed to find his rhythm and fell early to veteran Ivan Ljubicic. World # 21 Simon is well aware that a repeat struggle to find his form early will likely lead to an early exit. Having grown accustomed to the demands of the tour and schedule, Gilles will look to fight his way through at all costs. The points are worth far too much at critical events such as these to squander opportunities and Simon sees this event as a good launching point to improve his ranking.
While Simon looks to find his form, his opponent is looking to maintain his. By making his way through qualifying, Dabul has adjusted to the slower hard courts and dominated his opponents. Dabul has yet to drop a set in qualifying or the main draw.
Simon presents a step up in competition and fight for Dabul. Look for the Frenchman to advance through three tough sets and potentially setup a rematch with Ivan Ljubicic in the third round.
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