Gilles Simon has progressed into the second round of the Shanghai Masters after overcoming Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili by a 6-3 4-6 6-0 scoreline.
The opening set began in a cagey fashion, with both players struggling to gain an advantage. Both players traded breaks midway through the set, but it was Simon who broke again in the eighth game to move 5-3 ahead before serving out the set at the first attempt.
However, the Frenchman could not keep his form going in the second set, as Basilashvili began to get on top. The world number 93 was eventually rewarded as he broke to move 4-2 ahead.
Simon looked to have saved the set when he broke to make the score 5-6, but unforced errors allowed his opponent to break for a second time and with it take the game into a deciding third set.
Simon dominated proceedings from the off, with the world number 14 breaking to love in the opening game. Basilashvili struggled to replicate the form that he had been showing on his serve earlier in the match as Simon broke twice more on his way to opening up a 5-0 lead.
He then served out the set to love to wrap up the match and book his place in the next round of the competition.
Steven Toplis
