Andy Murray downs Gilles Simon in the third round of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
World number 4 Andy Murray of Great Britain cruised past French Gilles Simon, ranked 24th in the world, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 16 at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday. It took the British one
hour and 35 minutes to undo his opponent.
Murray broke Simon in the opening game of the first set to go up 1-0. However, he could not maintain the lead as the Frenchman broke back immediately to tie the score at 1-1. Both players held their serves in the next four games,
levelling the score at 3-3. Murray broke his opponent again in the seventh game and this time he succeeded in holding his serve in the next game, taking a 5-3 lead. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Simon failed to hold his serve and lost the opening set
3-6.
The Brit delivered 56 percent of his first serves and won 71 percent of the points on them in the first set. The right-handed converted three of the five break points he received in the opening set.
The second set saw both players breaking each other on a number of occasions. But, it was Murray who managed to break Simon three times in the second set, claiming it 6-3.
The 23-year-old fired 54 percent of the first serves, converting 69 percent of them into points in the second set. On the other hand, Simon did not serve quite well as he committed a couple of double faults and delivered just 48
percent of the first serves correctly. The French managed to save just two of the five break points he faced in the second set.
Simon was troubled by an ankle injury that he got in the last game of the first set. Murray fully exploited his opponent’s deteriorating condition and kept on using drop shot to win points in the second set.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Murray said, "I thought it was a good match until he got hurt. Once I got my position on the court and could use my forehand to open the court on his backhand I was able to dictate a lot
of the points - then he got his injury. It changed the match.”
The Brit added, “You always feel you are in the driving seat but it's not a lot of fun, it spoils the concentration. You know you are in the driving seat and you want to put the foot down and finish the match as efficiently as
possible.”
Murray has good chances of reaching the last four as he faces qualifier, world number 82 Frederico Gil of Portugal in the quarterfinals. The Portuguese upset French Gael Monfils, ranked 10th in the world, in straight
sets 7-6(6), 6-2 in the third round.
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