Cover Sunday Times 2

(AFP)- GILLES Simon thrilled home fans by reaching the semi-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday as he beat Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 – only to find himself next facing the surprise packet of the week.

There was disappointment for fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he lost to Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer 6-2, 7-5.

Tsonga went down after saving two match points as Ferrer, winner of his sixth title of the season last week in Valencia, advanced in 80 minutes.
“I lost, and, well, I won’t have much time, anyway, because I will be in London tomorrow and Monday I will be on the court, I guess,” said Tsonga.
“So if I had played a bit more here, it wouldn’t have changed things much.”

France put a second man into the last four as unseeded Michael Llodra defeated American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 to next play Ferrer. Simon will attempt on Saturday to end the dream run of lanky Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz, who reached the final four as eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic quit with illness (“sudden fatigue”) after being seen on court by the doctor, 3-6, 6-1, 4-1. The victory was the second surprise in 24 hours for Janowicz, ranked

69th, who stunned Andy Murray on Thursday.

The first Polish player to play a Masters 1000 quarter-final is now the first into the semis at the elite level after Tipsarevic threw in the towel after one and three-quarter hours.

The Serb was the last man to qualify for the season final in London which begins on Monday. Janowicz fired a modest nine aces, produced 33 winners and broke Tipsarevic four times.

“I really want to play 100 per cent and do everything I need to win the match,” said Simon of his next challenge.

“If I win, it’s going to be fabulous, but if I lose, it’s going to be easier to accept.”

Janowicz was overjoyed with another day of victory.

“In the second and third set I just played the best tennis of my life,” said the stunned winner. “I didn’t know actually I can play that good.

Follow @timesonlinelk

comments powered by Disqus

Cover – Sunday Times 2