By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 14, 2016
Gilles Simon battled back from a set and a break down edging Jack Sock, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in a thriller to set up a Shanghai semifinal against Andy Murray.
Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters
Playing catch-up for much of the match, Gilles Simon cleverly played over Jack Sock's head sparking a comeback in the decisive tie break.
A defiant Simon fought back from a set and a break down then rallied from 2-4 down in the tie break winning five of the final six points to edge Sock, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) and reach the Shanghai semifinals.
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The gripping and dramatic two hour, 40-minute duel saw Sock hit one of the most outrageous shots of the season—a running tweener lob winner in the first set—with the scrappy Simon delivering his own brilliant running lob winner to close to 2-3 in the tie break.
The 32nd-ranked Frenchman fought into his second semifinal of the season.
It is Simon's first Masters 1000 semifinal since his run to the 2014 Shanghai final. He will play second-ranked Andy Murray for a spot in the final.
Murray dissected David Goffin, 6-2, 6-2, to surge into his 11th semifinal of the season. Riding an eight-match winning streak into the semifinals, Murray has dominated Simon in the past, winning 14 of their 16 career meetings.
Contesting his first career Masters quarterfinal, Sock stormed out of the blocks displacing Simon from the baseline. Sock played a clever forehand drop shot for a second break point then pummeled Simon into the corner setting up a smash to break in the opening game.
The pace and weight of Sock's heavy topspin forehand pushed Simon into defensive positions. Sock broke again for a 4-1 lead.
Dialing in his own forehand, Simon started to take the initiative. The slender Frenchman reeled off eight of the next nine points, regaining one break to close the gap to 3-4.
Deadlocked at deuce, Sock delivered the magic.
A fantastic running lob tweener from behind the baseline soared over Simon's head and landed down the line.
Simon shook off the spectacular shot and earned a break point. Saving the break point with a jamming serve into the hip, Sock slapped a slingshot forehand winner holding for 5-3.
Slamming a vicious second serve down the middle, Sock sealed the opening set in 47 minutes.
The 25th-ranked American fought off a pair of break points, hammering a 135 mph ace to help work through a demanding hold in his first service game of the second set.
Two games later, Simon threatened again. Hoisting a backhand lob winner over a leaping Sock, Simon earned break point. When Sock dumped a backhand into the net, the 2014 runner-up swiped the break and a 3-1 second-set lead.
It was a short-lived lead.
Sock answered with successive breaks wrapped around a hold to edge ahead, 4-3.
Simon stopped his three game slide thumping a forehand return winner down the line to break back for 4-all.
In the ninth game, Sock slipped to the court cutting the knuckle of his middle finger and the back of his right hand.
After a seven-minute treatment time-out to tape up his finger and hand, Sock returned to the court then created self-inflicted wounds. Bleeding errors, Sock dropped serve at love in his sloppiest game of the match as Simon broke to snatch the second set.
Sock, who has reached the doubles semifinals with John Isner, showed his net skills sneaking forward to angle off a volley winner and level 3-all in the decider.
Both men showed nerves in the tie break with Simon rattling his fourth double fault to fall behind 1-3.
Racing to his right, Simon hit a hopping flick forehand lob that cleared Sock's head and cleaned the line for 2-3.
Sock lashed a two-handed backhand pass down the line for a 5-4 tie break lead.
Simon wasn't done.
Catching Sock leaning left, Simon slid a backhand winner down the line to level. Sock held two serves to reach the semifinals, but slapped a forehand to hand Simon match point then netted another forehand to end a highly-entertaining two hour, 40-minute match.