SIMON, TROICKI BEAT LOCAL WILD CARDS

Written by: Staff on 15th April 2012

SIMON, TROICKI BEAT LOCAL WILD CARDS

Gilles Simon of France returns the ball to his compatriot Guillaume Rufin during their quarter final match at the Open Sud de France tennis tournament in Montpellier, France, 03 February 2012. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO |

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

by ATP Staff

15.04.2012

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/04/16/Monte-Carlo-Sunday-Simon-Troicki-Beat-Local-Wild-Cards.aspx)

World No. 13 Gilles Simon advanced to the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Sunday as he defeated Monegasque wild card Benjamin Balleret 6-3, 6-2. The Frenchman converted four of 10 break points and won 71 per cent of points on serve to seal victory in 78 minutes over his No. 337-ranked opponent.

“He has a solid game and he has a very good first serve, so I knew I would have to be careful,” said Simon. “Maybe I tried to do too much in the beginning. After that, I was playing better. It was cold and it took me some time before I could find my rhythm.”

Simon improved to a 14-9 match record on the season, highlighted by reaching the semi-finals at the Brisbane International (l. to Dolgopolov) and the Open Sud de France in Montpellier (l. to Monfils) and a quarter-final showing at the BNP Paribas Openin Indian Wells (l. to Isner).

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The 27-year-old Simon is playing at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the sixth time and is bidding to go beyond the third round for the first time. He goes onto face either Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny or a qualifier.

A second Monegasque wild card fell by the way side as Serbia’s Viktor Troickidefeated Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-3, 6-1 in the first round for the second year in a row. The No. 27-ranked Troicki broke serve five times from seven opportunities to defeat Lisnard in 58 minutes.

The 26-year-old Troicki reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final in Monte-Carlo last year (l. to Ferrer) and goes onto face World No. 4 Andy Murray in the second round.