Davydenko Withstands Isner Ace Barrage; Simon Beats Bellucci

Written by: Staff on 24th May 2012

Davydenko Withstands Isner Ace Barrage; Simon Beats Bellucci |

Courtesy of ATP

Nice, France

By: ATP Staff

Original Link: ( http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/21/Nice-Thursday-Isner-Simon-Almagro-Eye-SF-Berths.aspx )

Former World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko broke a two-match losing streak against top-seeded American John Isner with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win in one hour and 42 minutes Thursday at the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur. Despite hitting 13 aces and saving six of seven break points, No. 11-ranked Isner could not beat Davydenko in their fifth meeting.

Davydenko is through to his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the season, having fallen to Roger Federer at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. The Russian is looking to lift his 22nd ATP World Tour title and will next play either qualifier Brian Baker or Mikhail Kukushkin.

Second seed and Nice native Gilles Simon remains on course to lift his 11th ATP World Tour title after he beat Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 7-5, 6-0 in 92 minutes. Simon, who won the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest (d. Fognini) last month, did not face a single break point and won 77 per cent of his service points.

The World No. 12 improved to 27-12 on the season (16-7 on clay). Simon will next face either third-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro or Belgian Steve Darcis in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Topics: Gilles Simon, John Isner, Nikolay Davydenko, Open de Nice Côte d’Azur, Thomaz Bellucci