Simon and Blake Reach Quarterfinals at Estoril

Gilles Simon won eight straight games over Fabio Fognini 6-0, 7-5 which secured a spot for the Estoril Open’s quarterfinals.

The first set went on for only 22 minutes in which the Frenchman, Gilles Simon overruled Fognini way before the Italian found his stride in the second and broke Simon twice.

Albert Montanes, the seventh-seeded met Simon in the next round. Simon was looking for in search for his sixth title and for his first for the year after he successfully reached the semifinals at Marseille and Dubai. Simon Greul of Germany was left behind when the Spaniard beat him with a 6-2, 6-2.

During the quarterfinals, James Blake overpowered Marc Gicquel of France with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win.

The fourth-seeded American rallied from a set down to beat Frederico Gil. He had five aces and was feeling more assured compared to his opening-round match during the outdoor clay-court event.

Gicquel made him face hard times during the first set as Gicquel was holding his serve at love and never seemed to allow a break.

Blake showed Gicquel during the second round that he still reigns by winning in the fifth and seventh games.

Now Blake will have to take on No. 8 seed Florent Serra. Florent Serra also has his share of success by knocking out Juan Monaco of Argentina with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.