DONALD YOUNG JR. BEAT BERNIE TOMIC IN MEMPHIS TENNIS, & IN ROTTERDAM IT’S A CASE OF NOBODY BEATS GILLES SIMON 13 TIMES IN A ROW

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2015

DONALD YOUNG JR. BEAT BERNIE TOMIC IN MEMPHIS TENNIS, & IN ROTTERDAM IT'S A CASE OF NOBODY BEATS GILLES SIMON 13 TIMES IN A ROW

epa04618420 Donald Young of the US serves to Bernard Tomic of Australia in their quarter final round Memphis Open tennis match at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 13 February 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

By Ricky Dimon

Donald Young booked a spot in his fourth career ATP semifinal and he is one win from a second appearance in a title match after beating Bernard Tomic 7-6(8), 4-6, 7-5 on Friday afternoon at the Memphis Open. The American prevailed after two hours and 14 minutes of back-and-forth momentum swings.

Young seemed to have an upper hand throughout the first set, but Tomic saved all six break points he faced to force a tiebreaker. After surviving the ‘breaker 10-8, Young’s serve fell off a cliff in the second a third.

Tomic took advantage of 35 percent serving by his opponent in the middle frame of play and broke twice, including at 5-4 to force a decider. The Australian also broke at 4-5 in the third to stay alive. Young, however, made up for poor serving with stellar baseline play. He steadied the ship and sealed the deal on his second time of asking as he served out the match at 6-5.

Donald Young of the US hits a return shot to Bernard Tomic of Australia in their quarter final round Memphis Open tennis match at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 13 February 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Bernard Tomic of Australia hits a return shot to Donald Young of the US in their quarter final round Memphis Open tennis match at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 13 February 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

“I got a little nervous there at the end,” the Atlanta native admitted, “but I was happy to come through. Anytime you make the weekend, you’re playing well. I made the weekend; it hasn’t happened too often in my career, so when it happens I’m very excited. Hopefully it can happen more.”

it has happened, also unexpectedly, for Gilles Simon at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. After learning that he would go up against Andy Murray in Friday’s quarterfinals, Simon posted on Twitter that nobody will beat him 13 times in a row.

Murray, of course, had defeated Simon 12 times in a row to take a 12-1 lead in their head-to-head series. As the Frenchman correctly predicted, however, it would 13th time lucky for him. Simon had no trouble pulling off a 6-4, 6-2 upset of the top-ranked Scot.

Gilles Simon of France in action against British Andy Murray during their quarter final match of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 13 February 2015. EPA/KOEN SUYK

“It was a great match for me,” said Simon. “I lost 12 times against him, so it was almost an unexpected win. I had a better feeling against him the last two matches I had to play. I was twice one set and a break up. I really felt I was close to win, and I think it helped me to be more confident today.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Abn Amro World Tennis Tournament, Andy Murray, Atp, Bernard Tomic, Donald Young jr, Gilles Simon, Memphis Open, Ricky Dimon, Rotterdam, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

February 13, 2015 at 3:33 pm

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