MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — Gilles Simon edged wild card Guillaume Rufin 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-2 in an all-French match Friday to reach the semifinals of the Open Sud de France.
Simon, seeded second, won when a backhand from Rufin sailed long. Rufin was hurt by his serve in the final set, double-faulting five times and making only 38 percent of his first attempts.
Simon took the first set tiebreaker on a forehand error from Rufin. Rufin hit two consecutive forehand winners to lead 6-2 in the second tiebreaker and evened the match at one set apiece when Simon netted a backhand.
