2019 Marrakech SF - [4] Gilles Simon vs Pablo Andujar

[The Green Mile]

The first SF scheduled, bad news for all us Simon fans out there, Pablo leads the clay H2H 2-0 and plays well here in Morocco. Will the defending champ make another final or will Gilles grind his way to victory once again?

Just over 2.5 hours required for Gilles to oust Taro yesterday, 6/4 7/5. Pablo was the beneficiary of a walkover from Vesely in the QFs, so no doubt who the fresher of the two players is. Walkovers have backfired before, a little bit of uncertainty about this one... Who you got?

 

[chola800]

pablo faced faced set points in his opening 2 matches, he has played a lot of tennis over the last 2 weeks and change so i dont think one day off will throw him

i feel with the walkover and the extra day of rest pablo is going to be the slight favourite, pablo in 3 sets, simon is playing well

 

[The Green Mile]

pablo faced faced set points in his opening 2 matches, he has played a lot of tennis over the last 2 weeks and change so i dont think one day off will throw him

i feel with the walkover and the extra day of rest pablo is going to be the slight favourite, pablo in 3 sets, simon is playing well

Didn't realize he's on a 12 match winning streak lol Consecutive challenger titles on clay the last couple weeks. He also won two more late last year, sheesh....

 

[chola800]

Didn't realize he's on a 12 match winning streak lol Consecutive challenger titles on clay the last couple weeks. He also won two more late last year, sheesh....

yeah and pablo especially loves playing at this tournament, i think hes got the edge for sure.

 

[Djokovic2015]

Pablo to ruin b2b frenchmen in sf/f?

 

[tennis_pro]

Andujar, almost forgot about the guy.

Almost because it's hard to forget him losing a set against Nadal at the FO after leading 5-1 40-0 on serve.

 

[The Green Mile]

What are we waiting for? Hurry up already...

 

[The Green Mile]

Gilles broken in the opening game

 

[The Green Mile]

Pablo has found the range early on off his forehand side. An error strewn start from Simon's perspective to counterbalance. Great game to consolidate.

 

[The Green Mile]

And with that timid backhand netted, Pablo has the double break advantage. 3-0. It's impressive timing and aggressive footwork from Pablo, I have to admit, right out the blocks. Gilles a little overwhelmed it seems...

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon forehand approach was excellent, the Pablo running forehand lob was perfect.

 

[The Green Mile]

A couple of pressuring returns from Simon in that game, attacking the 2nd serve of Andujar, also threw in random cheap errors off the ground at the most inopportune moments. Got to deuce, Pablo holds on for 4-0.

Simon frustration finally boiling over, launches a ball at the back wall.

 

[The Green Mile]

6/1 to Pablo, wrestling these points away from Gilles continuously, who seems willing to just counter react right now, far too many errors to be effective though. His balls need a lot more depth against the quality of this opponent, who's just dictating with the forehand...

 

[The Green Mile]

A bit annoying at how well Pablo is serving, has found them consistently on 30-30/deuce points...

 

[The Green Mile]

How many backhands into the net? Come on man.... BP here.

 

[The Green Mile]

Gilles looking a little gassed after that rally, next couple of points only solidifying that view further. Hmmm...

 

[The Green Mile]

Meanwhile, Andujar can do no wrong, level hasn't dropped at all. Destroying these 2nd serves and has a break of serve. 6/1 3/1.

 

[The Green Mile]

@vive le beau jeu ! It's not looking good

 

[The Green Mile]

It's going to be double breadsticks, ffs

 

[The Green Mile]

Simon's legs gone in the 2nd, another break. Not that it would matter all too much, the way Pablo has played. 6/1 5/1.

 

[The Green Mile]

It's over.

Pablo into yet another final here, now 18-2 lifetime, nice little stat.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

It's over.

Pablo into yet another final here, now 18-2 lifetime, nice little stat.

wow... brutal score
pablo sure loves morocco...

 

[stringertom]

wow... brutal score
pablo sure loves morocco...

The family must have crossed the Gibraltar Strait northward centuries ago, non?

 

[Otacon]

Pablo is the sultan of Morocco !

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

It's over.

Pablo into yet another final here, now 18-2 lifetime, nice little stat.

wow... brutal score
pablo sure loves morocco...

The sultan of Morocco

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Pablo is the sultan of Morocco !

Jinx

 

[Mainad]

Wow, what a beatdown for poor Gilles! Double breadstick from Andujar!!

No all-French final in Marrakech this year after all. The other finalist is, in another surprising upset, Benoit Paire and not the much favoured Tsonga!

 

[Djokovic2015]

rofl in a microcosm of their careers two of the four musketeers upset with good chances to win a title. Probably going to watch the NBA playoffs over this final tomorrow tbh.