Giant-killer Simon reaches Toronto Masters semi-final
Friday, 25 Jul 2008 21:29
James Blake was crushed by Nicolas Kiefer
Unfancied Frenchman Giles Simon continued his amazing run at the Toronto Masters as he beat Marin Cilic 3-6 6-2 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.
The 23-year-old, who caused a major upset when he knocked out world number one Roger Federer in the second round, came through a tough battle to reach his first Masters series semi-final.
The big-serving Cilic got off to the perfect start as he broke in only the second game of the match. He then held his serve to take a 3-0 lead and after saving three break points in the fifth game, he served out for the set.
Simon looked a little nervous and tentative in his ground-strokes, but a break of serve early in the second set settled him. The Frenchman took a 3-0 lead but was then forced to save a number of break points on his serve before he won the set 6-2.
The final set was almost identical to the first and second and like the second set, it was Simon who broke early to take a 3-0 lead. Cilic failed to create chances on the Simon serve as he had in the previous set, and Simon comfortably won the set 6-3.
"It was really hot for me on court, but it was a great fight again, a great match," said Simon.
"I'm happy to be in the semi-final, but I'm tired. In the second set I just kept fighting on every point. The start of the match was hard for me, Marin played very well."
Simon will now face German star Nicolas Kiefer in the semi-finals after he thumped an out-of-sorts James Blake 6-1 6-2.