Gilles Simon downs Janko Tipsarevic to advance to the quarter-finals of Sony Ericsson Open
World number 27 Gilles Simon of France came back from one set down to beat world number 44 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Tuesday. It took the French 2 hours
and 33 minutes to undo his opponent.
Tipsarevic broke his opponent once in the opening set, winning it 6-4. The Serbian did not served quite well as he did not hit any ace and delivered just 41 per cent of the first serves in the first set. However, he won 85 per
cent of the points on his first serve. The Serbian saved 1 of the 2 break points he faced in the first set. Tipsarevic converted both break points he received in the opening set.
In the second set, both players exchanged a single break of serve in the first twelve games to level the score at 6-6, forcing a tie-break. Simon claimed 3 mini-breaks in the tie-break to win it 7-3.
The French fired in a single ace and committed 2 double faults in the second set. The right handed hit 61 per cent of the first serves, winning 83 per cent of the points on them. Both players saved 1 of the 2 break points in the
second set.
The final set was dominated from the start by Simon as he broke Tipsarevic in the first and fifth game, winning the set 6-2.
The French hit a single ace and 3 double faults in the deciding set. He kept his first serve percentage at 65 per cent and won 82 per cent of the points on the first serves. In comparison, Tipsarevic delivered 63 per cent of the
first serves and converted 65 per cent of them into points. The Serbian saved 1 of the 3 break points he faced in the third set. He did not receive any break point.
Simon will meet either world number 3, the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer or Belgian Olivier Rochus, ranked 89th in the world, in the quarter-finals.
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