By Tennis Now | Thursday, January 3, 2019
Reigning Pune champion Gilles Simon subdued compatriot Benoit Paire, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, to set up a semifinal vs. top-seeded Kevin Anderson.
Photo credit: Tata Open Maharashtra Facebook
Gilles Simon topped Kevin Anderson to win the Pune title last year and will need to topple the top-seeded South African again to sustain his title defense.
Simon survived a tough test from compatriot Benoit Paire, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, to set up a semifinal vs. Anderson.
More: Wawrinka Ready To Be Force Again
Earlier today, the Wimbledon finalist fired 14 aces and permitted just six points on his first serve powering past Jaume Munar, 6-3, 6-3, advancing to the Tata Open Maharashtra for the second straight year.
“Firstly, I’m happy with the way I played today," Anderson told ATP World Tour.com. "I thought I did a really good job creating opportunities and taking them, so definitely felt good out there.
"I’m happy with the way I’m playing and I have to come out and focus on what I do best and if I do that I’m going to give myself the best chance of getting through.”
For the second match in a row, Simon dropped the opening set and rallied to victory.
The third-seeded Frenchman denied eight of 11 break points and attacked Paire's sometime suspect forehand wing on pivotal points in the second and third sets.
Simon exploited a pair of Paire double faults, including a double fault on his second set point, to snatch the second-set tiebreak.
That tiebreak was highlighted by the speedy Simon running down a fine drop shot and nudging an angled winner reply to earn three set points.
Breaking to start the third set, Simon stretched his lead and never looked back scoring his seventh straight win in Pune. That includes his 7-6 (4), 6-2 triumph over Anderson in the 2018 final.
It was Simon's fifth consecutive win over his compatriot as he improved to 6-3 lifetime vs. Paire.
Ivo Karlovic continues his march toward history.
The 39-year-old Croatian edged Ernests Gulbis, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) to become the oldest tour-level semifinalist since Jimmy Connors at the 1993 San Francisco.
Karlovic cranked 25 aces and saved all three break points he faced. The ATP ace leader has not dropped serve all week.
Karlovic can make history as the oldest ATP finalist since 42-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1977 if he beats Steve Darcis in Firday's semifinals.
The crafty Darcis, who owns a Wimbledon win over Rafael Nadal, defeated fourth-seeded Malek Jaziri, 7-5, 6-2, to become the first unranked Tour-level semifinalist since 1990.