2017 French Open R1 - [31] Gilles Simon vs Nikoloz Basilashvili

[The Green Mile]

Could be a very competitive match this one, with both guys form fluctuating a lot this season. Basilashvili murders the ball, so if it's not clicking today, he could rack up some serious UE numbers against the Frenchman though.

H2H is 1-0 in favour of Simon, met in Shanghai back in 2015. Up first on court 1, scheduled at 11:00 am local time.

 

[tennis_pro]

You really are a fan of Simon, aren't you @The Green Mile ?

A real threat for Simon because Basilashvili has played well this clay season while Simon has been very up and down.

Simon should come through but he'll lose a set.

 

[The Green Mile]

You really are a fan of Simon, aren't you @The Green Mile ?

A real threat for Simon because Basilashvili has played well this clay season while Simon has been very up and down.

Simon should come through but he'll lose a set.

Isn't everyone? He gets a lot of hate, but I'll always be in his corner, no matter how poor he's playing.

Yeah, I picked Simon in 4 in the prediction league. Wouldn't surprise me if it went five either.

 

[stringertom]

Isn't everyone? He gets a lot of hate, but I'll always be in his corner, no matter how poor he's playing.

Yeah, I picked Simon in 4 in the prediction league. Wouldn't surprise me if it went five either.

OK, I'll pull for the veteran French Human Wall, also in four...just for you, OP but please no 71-shot rallies.

 

[The Green Mile]

OK, I'll pull for the veteran French Human Wall, also in four...just for you, OP but please no 71-shot rallies.

Impossible with Basilashvili, the ball-basher inside him won't let it happen!

 

[stringertom]

Impossible with Basilashvili, the ball-basher inside him won't let it happen!

I've never watched him on clay...he still takes it to "11" on the dirt???

 

[The Green Mile]

I've never watched him on clay...he still takes it to "11" on the dirt???

From what I've watched, yeah, pretty much. His backhand is world class though.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Isn't everyone? He gets a lot of hate, but I'll always be in his corner, no matter how poor he's playing.

Yeah, I picked Simon in 4 in the prediction league. Wouldn't surprise me if it went five either.

he's a dogged player, a lot of useful stuff for most players to learn from

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon pattern with 4th round appearance here at FO. 2011, 2013, 2015 and.... Too bad Rafa, maybe next year.

 

[The Green Mile]

Match is under way, Nikoloz with a convincing love hold to start it off. Already a couple of big winners.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon in trouble early on. Love 30 as he nets a routine backhand. Niko pushes Simon back, gets the short ball, and rips an acute angled backhand winner. 2 BPs.

Both saved. 3rd BP. Good 1st serve to save it.

 

[The Green Mile]

Ominous signs on serve for Gillou. Manages to hold after saving 4 BPs. Nikoloz returning the 1st serve right off the baseline, which could be good for Gillou. His timing will have to be pretty good, already mishitting average 1st serves long.

 

[The Green Mile]

30-30 here, Niko serving. Simon wins a great exchange at the net, showing some excellent hand skills . BP. Simon all over the 2nd serve, and returns it for a winner. Breaks for 2-1. Allez.

 

[The Green Mile]

Nikoloz in a bit of slump here. Huge DF, and Simon has love 30...

Simon with a sweetly timed backhand dtl winner and he has 3 BPs. Niko rushing in that point, tries to take the forehand on as a drive volley, but the net cord takes it long.

Simon has the double break. 4-1, 1st set.

 

[The Green Mile]

Nikoloz reminds me of lesser version of Paire. Paire lite. Even has the beard going on.

 

[The Green Mile]

Errors galore off the Basilashvili racquet, just what the doctor ordered. LOL, Simon holds to love in what has to be his fastest hold of the year. 5-1.

 

[The Green Mile]

30-30, Niko struggling big time. What a 1st serve return from Simon, immediately on the attack. Niko misses the forehand pass, and Simon has SP. Another error, and Simon takes the 1st set in 24 minutes. 6/1.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon serving at 30-30. Cheap backhand error, and Niko has BP again at the start of a set. Niko a bit more high risk in that rally, and it pays off. Forehand dtl winner, and he has the early break.

 

[The Green Mile]

Basilashvili does consolidate for 2-0, 2nd set. Hit and miss right now, but it's paying off so far this set.

 

[The Green Mile]

Nikoloz's forehand is gold right now, while his backhand is cow dung. 30-30. A brilliant piece of wrong footing from Gilles, and he has BP. Saved.

 

[The Green Mile]

Basilashvili toughens out another hold. Leads 3-1, 2nd set. Simon unable to break through.

 

[The Green Mile]

Niko just misses the 2nd serve return wide, would have given him love 30. Simon DFs anyway, and it's 15-30.

Somewhat of a role reversal this set, Simon now making poor errors. 2 BPs. Missed opportunities there for Niko, bad misses on BPs. Deuce.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon comes through for 2-3, still a break down. Koenig would now mention that many break backs that happen, are when a player had opportunities to go up a double break but failed to do so. Will we see it now?

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon visually frustrated here, been so close to breaking back in all three service games of Niko's. Niko holds on yet again for 4-2.

 

[The Green Mile]

Niko beating Simon for pace there, taking control of the point right from the 2nd serve return. Love 30. 3 BPs. Niko breaks again, and will serve for the 2nd set.

 

[The Green Mile]

Basilashvili levels it at 1 set all. We have a match.

 

[The Green Mile]

Net cord sets up the easy forehand winner for Niko. 15-30, Simon serving. Niko has hit that hook forehand cross-court so well this past 40 minutes or so. Opening up the court very effectively. 2 BPs.

Wayward forehand from Simon, and he's down an early break in the 3rd set. Some work to do. Only serving at 50%, so not going to cut it.

 

[The Green Mile]

A couple of loose points from Niko, and it's love 30. Wide return from Gilles, and he has the whole open court to work with. Great forehand winner, and he has 2 BPs. Back on serve at 1-1, 3rd set. Allez.

Frustration boiling over for Niko, and he throws his racquet.

Another big momentum shift here, love hold for Simon, two clean backhand dtl winners to seal it. 2-1.

 

[The Green Mile]

Here comes Niko again, exploiting Simon's 2nd serve. Love 30.

It's really been a match of inconsistencies from both players. 30-30. Weak forehand error, and Niko has BP.

Nikoloz has the break for 3-2, 3rd set.

 

[Nostradamus]

Here comes Niko again, exploiting Simon's 2nd serve. Love 30.

is there a good live stream for this match ?

 

[The Green Mile]

is there a good live stream for this match ?

http://live.robinwidget.org/streamvideo8/simon-vs-basilashvili-court-1-live-stream-1980769.html

Decent, no commentary.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon grinds Basilashvili down, and that backhand finally leaks the error. 2nd BP for Simon. Big forehand into the backhand wing, and Niko nets it. Back on serve again. 3-3.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon making it so difficult for himself, ridiculous. Unreal errors from Simon, and Niko has 3 BPs. Simon lets out a scream. The DF for the cherry on top. Niko breaks yet again for 4-3, 3rd set.

Simon 1st serve percentage for each set. 1st set: 50%, 2nd set: 50%, 3rd set: 20%.

 

[The Green Mile]

Niko rolling in his 1st serve for the most part, not many free points on serve either. Simon has BP. What a rally, and a finish from Niko. Awesome, monster backhand winner from the forecourt.

Great hold in the end, leads 5-3, 3rd set.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon nonexistent in that final return game. Nikoloz now leads 2 sets to 1. Obligatory Simon 5 set match in store?

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon all over the place, in a real lull right now. Spraying errors. 2 BPs for Niko to start the 4th.

Niko breaks to start the 4th set, kudos to him really, he's gone after the 2nd serve with a lot of success. 1-0.

 

[The Green Mile]

Basilashvili comfortably holds for 2-0, 4th set. Freely hitting the ball right now, in control. The crowd trying to get Simon pumped up.

 

[The Green Mile]

Sad to watch, Basilashvili outlasting Simon here. 3 BPs for a double break.

He has the double break. 3-0, 4th set.

 

[Starfury]

And to think that Simon won the first set 6-1...

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon gets one of the breaks back, this is where Niko has to be very careful and stay composed. Simon can most definitely come back from a double break down. All this doesn't matter if he can't hold serve lol...

Smart use of the drop shot from Niko, and Simon can't make up the ground. Love 30. Brilliant forehand winner and Niko has 3 BPs.

Simon nets the forehand, and gets broken back to love.

 

[The Green Mile]

Basilashvili oozing confidence, knows Simon isn't playing well, timing the ball so sweetly for the most part. 40-0. Simple hold for 5-1, 4th set.

 

[Tennis wizard]

Basilashvili hitting winners from everywhere

 

[The Green Mile]

Talking up Niko's backhand, it's his forehand that has been most impressive. 3rd MP.

Simon saves the 3rd with a backhand dtl winner.

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon DF to end it. Nikoloz wins 1/6 6/2 6/4 6/1. The far more deserving player wins. Forehand was brilliant for sets 2-4. Simon's service games just not good enough, and it affects the rest of his game. Disappointing, but it is what it is.

 

[The Green Mile]

 

[okdude1992]

Nikoloz reminds me of lesser version of Paire. Paire lite. Even has the beard going on.

Paire lite. Jeez talk about a burn.

Basilashvili seems like he has a brain at least. Better forehand too, but the serve and consistency aren't great. Anyway he seems to be coming into his own the last year

 

[MarcusInKensington]

I watched this on court 1 today. Basher played some incredible stuff throughout. I don't know what happened to him in the 1st set, as for the first 3 games he was painting the lines, then all of a sudden Gillou had somehow managed to win it.

Poor Gillou was totally overpowered. You'd have thought Basher was the higher ranked player for sure.

 

[tennis_pro]

42 winners against Simon on clay in a match that wasn't that long is outstanding.

 

[The Green Mile]

I love his technique on both wings, Basilashvili. Looks really fluid. It would be nice to see him play with a bit more consistency, he's entertaining to watch. Hope he takes out the bore that is Troicki.