Gilles Simon defeats Carlos Berlocq; breezes into the quarters at Estoril Open
Fourth Seed Gilles Simon eased past Argentinean Carlos Berlocq with a breadstick on Thursday. The Frenchman registered a 6-2, 6-1 win over 28-year-old Berlocq to advance into the quarter-finals of the 2011 Estadio Nacionale in
Portugal.
Simon trashed the Argentinean in eighty-four minutes at Estoril Court Central to extend his winning streak against Berlocq by 3-0. They last faced each other at Indian Wells three years ago where the Frenchman became victorious
in straight sets.
Ranked 22nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Simon had an awesome start of the season as he won the title at Sydney by defeating fourth seeded Serb Viktor Troicki in straight sets. He then made a
quarter-final berth at Dubai, Miami and Casablanca before entering this tournament with full of confidence.
26-year-old displayed tremendous skills in his opening round match to book a last eight spot. In the opening set, he produced a slightly higher first serve share but registered an amazing 85 percent win on it. Simon held his opening
serve plausibly and later kept his entire serves through his awesome agility. He faced zero breakpoints and converted two out of six breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to clinch the set with a 6-2 win.
The Frenchman raised his level of game in the final set and produced a much better first serve share of 71 percent as compared to Berlocq’s 58 percent. He also earned an impressive 70 percent win on it and saved all five breakpoints
faced through his exceptional defensive skills. Although Simon clobbered three double faults and many unforced errors but he broke the Argentinean’s serve twice to seal the set with a breadstick.
World number 72 Berlocq on the other side of net hasn’t had much progress this season so far. He showed no spirit in this tournament as well and exited from early round again. He saved six breakpoints and founded five breakpoint
opportunities but couldn’t convert any to his advantage.
Up next for the seed is the fifth seeded Milos Raonic. The 20-year-old Canadian dumped Portuguese qualifier Joao Sousa in straight sets earlier that day.
All the remaining seeds advanced later in the day: Second seed Fernando Verdasco overpowered Portuguese Frederico Gil by 6-1, 7-6(6) victory and Seventh seed Kevin Anderson triumphed over Victor Hanescu be 6-4, 6-2 win.
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