In the first of the Moselle Open semifinals, Dominic Thiem defeated Frenchman Gilles Simon 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the final. The Austrian will meet Lucas Pouille in tomorrow's final after he strolled past David Goffin.
Gilles Simon grabs opening set
Dominic Thiem got the match underway with a comfortable hold. Gilles Simon also held his opening service game but needed two chances before holding serve. The third game would see the first break point arrive for the Frenchman. At 15-30, Thiem smashed a forehand into the net which presented Simon with a double break chance. An ace and a forehand winner from the 23-year-old, however, denied Simon of a chance to claim the early break. A third break point came and went for the 31-year-old but on his fourth opportunity, he fired a backhand down the line to get the first break of the match.
He consolidated serve and went up 3-1. The Austrian continued to fight and just three games later he broke back via a forehand winner. However, it wouldn't last long as the Frenchman broke again in the following game to go 4-3 ahead. A hold of serve to love for Simon soon make it 5-3. A game later saw the world number 28 presented with his first set point but Thiem managed to stave it off, hold serve and force Simon to serve it out. The fourth seed had a second set point saved at 40-15 before going on to take the set 6-4.
Thiem battles back to level match
The number one seed started the second set confidently, in desperate need of a good start if he had any plans of making a comeback, holding his serve with ease to start the set. In the second game, Thiem fired a backhand down the line to bring up a break point and in the very next point, broke for a 2-0 lead. Despite breaking, Simon broke straight back and consolidated the break to level at 2-2. The next four service games were held and with both players tied at 4-4, an opening came for the world number 28 when Thiem hit a forehand shot into the net.
The Austrian then fired a shot wide and Simon went in front for the first time in the set at 5-4. Serving for the match, the world number 10 broke immediately back for 5-5. The four-time ATP title winner then held serve with ease to edge in front before putting Simon under pressure. A trademark backhand down the line from Thiem brought up a set point at 15-40. The Frenchman saved one of them when in the next point the Austrian sealed the set 7-5 with a wonderful backhand crosscourt passing shot to level the match at one-set-apiece.
Thiem grabs lone break advances to the final
The opening three games of the set saw comfortable holds of serve until the fourth game where Gilles Simon found himself under some serious pressure. The number one seed ran away to a love-40 lead and Simon dealt with the pressure incredibly by winning five points on the bounce and hold serve to bring the set level at 2-2. Both players then continued to hold their serve and having put Simon under pressure earlier in the set, Thiem came back at the fourth seed once more.
With the score at 4-3 30-15, Thiem hit a drop shot to which Simon couldn't reach and a break point came for the first seed. He then won the next point to break the Simon serve and serve for the match. Just moments later, a forehand winner brought up a match point for Thiem before second forehand winner in a row sealed the match and booked his spot in the final.