2011 Open 13: Gilles Simon takes out Nikolay Davydenko 7-6, 6-4
Local Gilles Simon capitalised on his home court advantage as he moved into the second round of the 2011 Open 13 in Marseille, France. Playing Nikolay Davydenko in the opening round, Simon was able to move on ahead after enjoying a straight, yet not so simple,
sets victory over the Russian.
Already standing at a “one-sided” 4-1 lead in the career head to head, Simon was able to extend his winning streak to five games against the Russian. Taking a little over ninety minutes, Simon was able to secure a do away with the Russian in straight sets.
Serving in the opener, both professionals were almost equally matched. Not only did both serve the equal number of aces, Simon recorded a winning percentage of 63% on serve almost comparable to Davydenko’s 57%. Saving 100% percent break opportunities, both
the professionals pushed the set into a tiebreaker. Even in the tiebreaker, both the players engaged each other in a neck to neck run with neither catching a break. Keeping the score tied for twelve points, it was only in the thirteenth that Simon caught himself
a break and won two successive points to clinch the tiebreaker 8-6.
Leading the set score and backed by the local crowd, Simon sailed towards his victory as he secured a 6-4 win in the second set. Simon struck two aces to Davydenko’s zero and cashed in on the Russian’s three double faults. Successfully converting two of
four break opportunities, Simon was able to secure a 2-0 lead in the set score and move on ahead in the event.
Simon now moves on ahead to play another Russian, third seeded Mikhail Youzhny.
Also moving on ahead sailing on the waves of local crowd support was Simon’s compatriot, Edouard Roger-Vasselin who beat fellow Frenchman
Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-2.
Taking eighty minutes, Vasselin struck four aces to Clement’s notable total of ten. However, cashing in on Clement’s double the double faults Vasselin was able to cater for the offset. The qualifying French recorded a winning percentage of 74% on his serve
as losing only 12 of 49 points on service. Successfully converting 3 of nine break opportunities, Vasselin was able to move on ahead in straight sets recording a 6-3, 6-2 win for the match.
Moving on ahead in the next round, Vasselin will now face the second seeded Czech, Tomas Berdych. The Czech being the second seed here received a bye into the second round.
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