Gilles Simon ousts Lukasz Kubot to reach semis – BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012
Top seed, Gilles Simon, bounced back to outmuscle the Polish star, Lukasz Kubot, in a three-set thriller at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012 on Friday. He nudged up a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory against the Boleslawiec native to secure a spot in the final four
at this ATP World Tour 250 series event held in Bucharest, Romania.
The French tennis star got the better of Kubot after capitalising on six out of 15 break opportunities. After dominating the two hours and 13-minute marathon, he not only edged in the head-to-head series by 1-0 against the Pole but also laboured into the
final four at this outdoor clay court event.
"I think Kubot played a very good match at the beginning; he was very aggressive," Simon stated in a court-side interview after the match. "I was a little bit tired, not moving perfectly, and it was very difficult to handle the match. I think I got a little
bit lucky at the start of the second set because he had some opportunities to break me, but finally I was able to break him. I played better and better and was able to win this match."
The 29-year-old made a strong start the BNR Arenas and drew the first blood in the second game to take a 3-0 lead. He then held his remaining serves with poise and bagged the opener by winning six games to three.
Simon unleashed his true colours in the second set and jumped to a 2-0 lead with a break of serve. Regardless of losing his serve in the third game, he stroke out the last four games in a row and pulled out the equaliser with a breadstick.
Ranked 12th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Simon carried his winning ways in the final set and got the critical break in the opening game. The French then held his remaining serves until he broke Kubot’s serve again and
extended his lead to 5-2. He then exchanged a serve break and clinched the decider with a 6-3 score line.
Next in line for Simon is the German contestant, Matthias Bachinger, who crushed his compatriot, Daniel Brands, with breadstick to secure this spot.
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