By all measures, 2017 was a struggle for Gilles Simon. The veteran Frenchman managed just a 16-25 record and finished outside the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since 2005.
But if Simon’s performance in the opening week of the new ATP World Tour campaign is a sign of things to come, the World No. 89 is back in form. The 33-year-old defeated second seed Kevin Anderson 7-6(4), 6-2 on Sunday in Pune to earn his first title since the Open 13 Marseille in 2015 (d. Monfils) and his 13th overall (13-6 in finals).
It was Simon’s first victory against Anderson in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, after losing their previous three matches.
Anderson was not the only top player Simon took out at India's ATP World Tour 250 event. He defeated each of the Top 3 seeds, beating defending champion Roberto Bautisa Agut (No. 3) in the second round, Marin Cilic (No. 1) in the semi-finals and Anderson in the championship match.
With the triumph, Simon earns 250 ATP Rankings points and $89,435, while Anderson leaves Pune with 150 points and $47,105.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2F7EUcD
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