Simon gains final

BANGKOK—Gilles Simon upset top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic, 6-4, 6-4, Saturday to reach the final of the Thailand Open for the second time.

The fourth-seeded Simon won the title here in 2009 and improved his head-to-head record against Tipsarevic to 5-1. He broke the Serb in his first service game and then saved a break point in the 10th game before clinching the set when Tipsarevic netted a forehand.

The Frenchman then broke for a 5-4 lead in the second after winning a Hawk-Eye challenge on his fourth break point, as the replay system showed his forehand winner clipped the line.

Simon said “I think I couldn’t do any better than that. Janko has been playing amazing tennis since last year. It’s difficult to beat him.”  AP