The semi-finals are on the schedule today at the central court of Nice LTC, which is hosting the 3rd Nice Côte d’Azur Open tennis tournament. The local favorite, Frenchman Gilles Simon, is indeed present and will have to fight hard to overcome the defending champion, Spaniard Almagro. In the other semi-final, Davydenko, who defeated Isner, will face Baker, another surprising American who came through the qualifiers.
While the confrontation between Nice’s Gilles Simon and Spaniard Nicolas Almagro was expected, it is not the same for the other semi-final, where two surprise guests, Russian Nikolay Davydenko and American Brian Baker, will face off.
The latter is the most surprising guest in the final four as he came through the qualifications, which started last Saturday on the courts of Nice LTC. After knocking out Gaël Monfils in the previous round (6-3 7-6), Baker overcame Kazakh Kukushkin in three sets with a score of 4/6 6/3 7/6(4).
On the French side, after the disappointment of Monfils’ elimination due to a knee injury, which will prevent him from participating in Roland Garros, and Roger-Vasselin’s defeat, all hopes now rest on Nice’s Gilles Simon, who will be the first to enter the Nice LTC arena to face a formidable opponent in Nicolas Almagro, who will do everything possible to retain his title. There is no doubt that the Frenchman will benefit from the complete support of a crowd expected to gather in large numbers on Parc Impérial’s hillside.
Let the games and sets begin!
TODAY’S SCHEDULE Thursday, May 25, 2012
CENTRAL COURT starting at 12:30 PM
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [3] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED)
Not before 2:30 PM
[3] N Almagro (ESP) vs [2] G Simon (FRA)
N Davydenko (RUS) vs [Q] B Baker (USA) or M Kukushkin (KAZ)
COURT NO. 1 starting at 12:30 PM
P Hanley (AUS) / J Knowle (AUT) vs O Marach (AUT) / F Polasek (SVK)
RESULTS Thursday, May 24, 2012
Men’s Singles – Quarter-finals
N Davydenko (RUS) d [1] J Isner (USA) 6/4 7/6(4)
[2] G Simon (FRA) d [Q] T Bellucci (BRA) 7/5 6/0
[3] N Almagro (ESP) d S Darcis (BEL) 6/4 6/4
[Q] B Baker (USA) d M Kukushkin (KAZ) 4/6 6/3 7/6(4)
Men’s Doubles – Quarter-finals
P Hanley (AUS) / J Knowle (AUT) d [4] J Cabal (COL) / S Gonzalez (MEX) 6/3 6/2
O Marach (AUT) / F Polasek (SVK) d [WC] J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 6/3 6/0
