By Chris Oddo | Friday January 5, 2018
Gilles Simon knocked off top-seeded Marin Cilic to reach the final in Pune, where Kevin Anderson waits.
Unseeded Gilles Simon rallied from a set down to continue his mastery over Marin Cilic at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Frenchman is into his 19th career final and will bid for his lucky 13th career title against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.
33-year-old Simon saved seven of ten break points including all three he faced in the third set to defeat World No.6 Cilic for the sixth time in seven career meetings.
Second-seeded Anderson hammered 26 aces in rallying from a set down against Benoit Paire, 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 6-1. The World No.14 has had a great week from the service stripe in Pune, winning 37 of 39 service games and pounding 63 aces.
Anderson leads Simon 3-0 lifetime but the South African has not fared well in finals, going 3-10 over the course of his career.