Gilles Simon rallies past Jeremy Chardy into the third round – French Open 2011
French Gilles Simon, ranked 18th in the world, survived a scare in the first set to defeat compatriot, world number 61 Jeremy Chardy in four sets in the second round of French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Thursday.
The match lasted for two hours and 38 minutes.
Chardy drew the first blood as he broke Simon once in the first set to win it 6-4. The French kept his first serve percentage at 68 percent and grabbed 67 percent of the points on the first serve in the opening set. The 24-year-old
converted 41 percent of the returns into points in the first set. On the other hand, Simon won 26 percent of the receiving points in the opening set. Chardy claimed one of the five break points he received and succeeded in saving the only break point he faced
in the first set.
Chardy was looking strong as he broke Simon in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the second set. However, Simon came back strong, breaking back immediately and holding his serve in the next game to equalize the score at 2-2.
The French broke again in the fifth game and capitalised on the single break of serve to claim the set 6-4. Simon hit a single ace but was erratic with his second serve as he committed three double faults in the second set. The 26-year-old failed to save one
of the four break points he faced but succeeded in converting both break points he received in the second set.
Simon thrashed Chardy in the third set as he dropped only a single game, breaking his countryman in the second and fourth game to seal the set 6-1. The right-handed had a low first serve percentage as he managed to hit just 46
percent of the first serves, converting 73 percent of them into points in the third set. In comparison, Chardy had a slightly higher first serve percentage as he delivered 50 percent of the first serves. The French could not save two of the three break points
he faced and failed to convert the only break point he received in the third set.
Simon and Chardy broke each other on a number of occasions in the fourth set. However, it was Simon who clinched the decisive break as he broke his opponent in the ninth game and served out the set at 5-4. The French improved his
first serve percentage drastically, firing 70 percent of the first serves in the fourth set. The six feet tall grabbed 50 percent of the receiving points in the fourth set. Simon converted three of the five break point opportunities he received on Chardy’s
serve and saved one of the three break points on his own serve in the fourth set.
The French is slated to face American Mardy Fish, seeded tenth at the event, in the third round.
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