By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday October 16, 2019
Gilles Simon and Stan Wawrinka prevailed in a pair of old-school battles in Antwerp on Wednesday.
Photo Source: European Open
Gilles Simon sailed past his friend and compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the first time in six years on Wednesday at the European Open in Antwerp.
The 6-4 7-5 triumph snaps a four-match losing streak and marks Simon’s first win over Tsonga since he defeated him in the 2013 Metz final. Simon was steady throughout, took advantage of his opportunities to break and protected his serve extremely well over the course of the one hour and 47-minute battle.
Simon broke for 5-4 in the opening set thanks to a magnificent backhand passing shut that was curled wickedly inside the sideline at a near impossible angle.
He would close the first set moments later when Tsonga buried a forehand into the net on Simon’s first set point at 6-5, 40-30.
Simon was at his best again late in the second set when he carved a running forehand just inside the baseline to secure a break at love for 6-5. He didn’t falter in the next game and served the match out to 30, cracking a smash to close the contest.
Simon will next face Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals.
The Swiss edged Feliciano Lopez in another battle of thirty somethings on Wednesday at Antwerp, 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(4).
World No.18 Wawrinka improves to 5-3 against Lopez lifetime and 28-18 on the season with the win.
Wawrinka cracked 17 aces and saved all three break points he faced in the contest, but didn’t face a break point in the final two sets as he came from behind to book his spot in the last eight on his Antwerp debut.