Simon returns to city in style

In-form Gilles Simon of France returned to Bangkok in style, shooting down Australian young gun Bernard Tomic 6-4 7-5 in the second round of the US$567,530 ATP Thailand Open at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani yesterday.

Fresh from winning in Metz, France, Simon, the 2009 champion here and last year’s runner-up, broke his young opponent right at the start and held on with solid service games. He faced break points in the sixth game but eventually held it thanks to a superior baseline game. 

The second set went to serve until the 11th game, when the former champion showed guile to match his power in outwitting Tomic for the break. The Frenchman then coolly served out for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I had a good sensation on the court. I like the conditions here. That’s why I play every year and have been successful most of the time. But to play at 12pm is not easy. It’s different for me because it’s seven o’clock in the morning [in France], which means I have to wake up at 3am [French time],” said the world No 14, who beat countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for his 11th career victory in Metz last week.

“I feel confident on court. I was playing great tennis in Metz. Now I’m a bit tired and I have to be careful not to get injured because I just came back from injuries, which is the main problem for me on the court now. Before I was confident about my legs and game but now it’s the other way around. I’m happy that everything is good,” added the 28-year-old father of two. His youngest son, Valentin, was born earlier this month.

The former world No 6 has now won 300 matches on the ATP. He will play his 301st against Dutchman Igor Sijsling today.

“Igor is a great player. I played him once when his ranking was low. He always gave me trouble on the court back then. I expect it to be a tough match. 

“I won both matches we played in three sets, and they were on indoor courts. He has nice serves and moves well from the baseline,” added Simon, who is in Bangkok with first son, three-year-old Timothe. 

World No 11 Milos Raonic of Canada, the quarter-finalist last year, survived three set points in the opener to beat Australian Marinko Matsovic 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4. The big-serving third seed, after dazzling fans with serves that zipped past his rival at 200mph, will take on Spanish Felicano Lopez. Lopez yesterday took a boxing lesson with Klomklom Lookmahathat, a Rajadamnoen muay thai champion.

Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan reached his second ATP quarter-final this year after upsetting eighth seed Lukas Rosol 6-3 6-2. The Taiwanese No 1, who has won his last seven matches, will face top seed and world No 4 Tomas Berdych who moved past Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round on Wednesday. 

Russian fifth seed Mikhail Youzhny maintained his title charge with a 6-3 6-3 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in just 79 minutes. 

In the doubles quarter-finals, defending champions Danai Udomchoke and Lu lost a hard-fought battle to third-seeded Jimmy Murray of Great Britain and Australian John Peers 7-6 (9-7) 7-5.