Tomas Berdych.net

Simon takes out Berdych in three

11/4/09 5:16 PM | Cheryl Murray @ TennisTalk

Gilles Simon dispatched Tomas Berdych in three topsy-turvy sets of tennis on Wednesday in Valencia.

No. 5 seed Gilles Simon was on the cusp of losing this second-round match to the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych. The first set was in Berdych’s hands in nearly every Simon service game. Berdych had a staggering nine break points in the set, and he had at least a look at a break in nearly every one of the Frenchman’s service games.

The two men traded breaks of serve early in the set, but after so many other missed opportunities, Berdych faltered with he was attempting to stay in the set at 4-5.

The second set was cleaner than the first from both players. Berdych faced just one break point, which he successfully fought off. A single break of Simon’s serve at 4-4 sealed the second set for Berdych.

Simon’s game finally caught fire in the third set. The Frenchman raced out to a 3-0 lead, and he had several break points to go up 4-0. Berdych managed to stave him off there and then again in his next service game to keep Simon from getting more than one break ahead. With Simon serving for the match at 5-4, Berdych earned himself a couple of break points, but he couldn’t convert.

Simon moves into the quarterfinals while some players in his bracket are still contesting their first-round matches.