Gilles Simon downs Go Soeda in the second round – Thailand Open 2012
Seeded fourth in the draw, Gilles Simon of France moved one step closer to regaining his title, as he defeated Japan’s Go Soeda in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in the round two of the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
Currently ranked 19th in the world, Simon captured this ATP World Tour crown three years back by beating Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the final.
The Frenchman did not take much time to go up, as he struck in the very first game and held his subsequent serve to gain a 2-0 lead. However, Soeda was also quick to come on equal terms, breaking back in the fourth to even out
the proceedings at 2-2. Simon hit another blow to the Japanese player in the ninth and made the most of it to win 6-4.
Ranked 19th in the world, the French player fired two aces and committed one double fault, putting in 67 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The 27-year-old claimed 20 of the 34 first and 10 of the 17 second
delivery points. The Nice, France born saved four of the five break points he faced and converted two of the five he received.
Simon and Soeda traded a break of serve in the first six games to square off the score at 3-3. The French star claimed a breakthrough again in the seventh and capitalised on it to grab it 6-4.
The 6ft tall was a bit rusty on his second serve this time, as he made a couple of double faults this time. The 27-year-old could not out away the only break threat he came across but balanced that by capitalising two of the seven
he created in the second set.
Simon will lock horns with his countryman, Gael Monfils, in the quarter-finals. Monfils, who is featuring in his second event after a four month injury lay-off, ousted Troicki in the second round.
During the post match press conference, Monfils was asked about Simon’s shoulder injury problem. The Frenchman replied, “How many events has he missed? Four months out with a knee injury is much worse. I'd much rather be him than
me going into our match. I'm not saying he has nothing (wrong), but he's still been playing all along.”
This will be the fourth meeting between Simon and Monfils on the ATP World Tour. Simon is leading his compatriot 2-1 in the head to head series.
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