Gilles Simon wins blood bath against Jarkko Nieminen in 3rd round – German Tennis Championships 2011
Jarkko Nieminen, the Finn, moved into the quarterfinal round of the International German Open- Hamburg 2011, also known as the Bet-at-home Open, against the French International Gilles Simon in a 3 setter to quarter-finals. The
fixture was played at the Rothenbaum Tennis Court, the largest there is in Hamburg, Germany.
Born in Masku, Finland, Jarkko Nieminen is a 29-year-old pro who started his tennis career in 2000. Standing at 6’1”, Jarkko is left hander and is ranked at World No.55. Playing against the Frenchman for the fourth time, Jarkko
once again had a tough match but this time he could not win making the head to head score 2-2.
However, the winner of this match, Gilles Simon, has been playing professional tennis since 2002. The 26-year-old has been in a rivalry with the Finn since 2006. Formerly ranked as world No.6, Gilles has been a tough shot for the
low ranked pros. With clay and grass courts his favourite, the Frenchman once again made it clear that his perfections are unmatched.
The match started off as both players took their baselines. Jarkko served for the opener but as always the fixture started with an intense battle. A breakpoint to the Frenchman opened up the score board but it was soon revenged
as the Finn got back level the scores 1-1, winning his first breaker of the match. The scores once again levelled at 2-2 after game 4 with Jarkko to serve the next. The Frenchman once again dominated and won his 2nd breakpoint to lead 3-2. Winning
the next game, the 26 year-old then extended his lead to 4-2 and then to 5-2 winning his 3rd breakpoint.
The set fired up as Jarkko hit back with a breakpoint and next set win to cut the lead to 4-5. The 29 year –old Finn levelled with an amazing comeback breakpoint and gained the lead with 2 games straight wins 5-6. Eventually the
set went into a tiebreaker.
Winning the tiebreaker Gilles took away the set 7-6(4) totalling 43 points same as that of his opponent.
The second set maximized the intensity of the fixture. Gilles went for the opener but the Finn was sitting for his revenge. Jarkko won a breakpoint in the first game and the next to lead the set 2-0. The 29-year-old increased his
lead further in game 18 as he won another breakpoint to make it 4-1. Trying to get back in the set, Gilles won a breather breakpoint to make it 2-4 and further on cutting the lead in the next game to 3-4. However, that was the last of his won for this set.
Jarkko won the next 2 games ending with a breaker to win the set 6-3 and level the set scores to 1-1.
With the decider on its way, Gilles sat as a hunter to catch his pray. Jarkko served the first set but was eaten up by a breakpoint win by the Frenchman. This advanced the French sensation to a 2-0 lead that he maintained to take
his win at 6-4 and ending a superb match 7-6(4), 3-6 and 6-4.
The stats told the story of a blood bath. With scores equal at 100 each, there seems to be a question as why didn’t the match tie?? Gilles had his luck working this time as he won the game, levelled the head-to-head score at 2-2
and moved into the quarterfinal round.
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