TIL Desk Sports/ Gilles Simon staged a dramatic comeback to knock out top seed Marin Cilic and set up the title clash with second seed Kevin Anderson, who prevailed over a spirited Benoit Paire at the Tata Open Maharashtra, in Pune on Friday. In a sensational turnaround, the unseeded Frenchman toppled the world No. 6 from Croatia 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping semi-final.
He had also sent third seed and defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut packing in the second round. Simon, who was once a top-10 player but is now placed at a humble 89th, shrugged off the opening set debacle to stun Cilic, the 2017 Wimbledon finalist, in an hour and 51 minutes.
He will now gun for his 13th ATP title, having played his last final in September 2015 when he lost to compatriot Jo-Wilfred Tsonga at home in Metz. Anderson, the US Open finalist, rallied to edge out Paire 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 6-1 in two hours and 19 minutes. Cilic was ruthless in the beginning but Simon effortlessly changed the complexion of the game. From nowhere, he seized the momentum to rattle Cilic.
