Anderson reaches first grass-court final of career with 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win
South African will face Andy Murray or Victor Troicki in final
4.41pm BST
Reflecting on his opening round victory over Lleyton Hewitt, when he was match point down, Anderson says: “Keep fighting and you never know what might happen in the end.” Indeed. To his credit, Simon too did that today. But in the end he simply lacked the firepower that earned Anderson so many free points. It’ll be interesting to see how Andy Murray deals with that challenge if he lives up to his top seeding and reaches tomorrow’s final. First, though, he’ll have to get past Victor Troicki. You can follow that match now right here. Thanks for reading.
4.33pm BST
Anderson is talking to Andrew Castle courtside. He says he was just focusing on staying in the moment, but that he “felt good on the serve and that was a big factor in the match”. No kidding!
4.32pm BST
Third set: Simon* 3-6 Anderson (sets 1-1) Simon claims first blood with a lovely reflex volley on the opening point, but if the Frenchman was expecting Anderson to be unnerved, he is disappointed. The South African’s 33rd ace brings up two match points and, although Simon saves the first with a lovely forehand pass, Anderson secures a place in the first grass-court final of his career with … yes, you guessed it, an ace. What a performance on serve from the big South African.
4.27pm BST
Third set: Simon* 3-5 Anderson (sets 1-1) When Simon sends two relatively straightforward backhands long to go 0-30, you fear for him. Those concerns prove well founded. Unperturbed by a missed backhand of his own on the next point, Anderson drives a ferocious return for a winner to bring up 15-40. Simon claws back one of the break points, but an error at 30-40 leaves Anderson serving for the match.
4.23pm BST
Third set: Simon 3-4 Anderson* (sets 1-1) Maybe Anderson has a direct line to the Met Office, because he was certainly in a hurry there. The South African clinches a love game with a ferocious kick serve that rears up around Simon’s shoulders. Unplayable.
4.21pm BST
Third set: Simon* 3-3 Anderson (sets 1-1) After claiming the opening point somewhat fortuitously with a tentative foray to the net that Anderson fails to punish, Simon suffers a wobble with his worst shot of the match, a horrible overhead from the baseline. But he recovers well to seal the game, and that could be vital for the Frenchman, because the weather forecasters are apparently predicting a huge downpour very soon.
4.18pm BST
Third set: Simon 2-3 Anderson* (sets 1-1) More huge serving from Anderson, who throws down his 31st ace to claim a love game. The storm clouds are gathering both literally and metaphorically: Simon, serving second in this set, is under constant pressure to hold, while the skies above Queen’s Club are visibly darkening.
4.14pm BST
Third set: Simon* 2-2 Anderson (sets 1-1) Some of the rallies now are of the highest quality. Both players have found their range from the back of the court and are going hell for leather. The pattern is underlined by a beautifully orchestrated exchange at 30-30 that, having started with the two players probing each other’s backhands, slowly gathers pace until Simon claims the point with a crushing forehand. Anderson replies in kind to take the game to deuce, but a few point later Simon secures the hold. That was a compelling game.
4.07pm BST
Third set: Simon 1-2 Anderson* (sets 1-1) At 0-15, Anderson flails carelessly at a forehand for a wild unforced error. Could Simon finally be on the verge of a break? Not a chance. Two aces bring the score to 30-30, at which point Simon is unable to tame a lovely kick serve from the South African. Anderson follows up with a delivery of such savage velocity that Simon can barely get a racket on it, even though it lands right in his hitting zone. If Simon needed a reminder of the formidable nature of the challenge he faces here, that was it.
4.03pm BST
Third set: Simon* 1-1 Anderson (sets 1-1) Simon, who has been holding with minimal fuss for the past half hour or so, looks on the verge of a potentially fatal setback when Anderson makes it to 30-30. But he stays solid to elicit an unforced error that brings up game point, and another carefully crafted rally sees Anderson go long with a forehand. It’s a lesson in the art of fine defensive play that the watching Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho doubtless appreciates.
4.01pm BST
Third set: Simon 0-1 Anderson* (sets 1-1) Is Anderson finally feeling the pinch? Probably not. Nevertheless, at 40-30 the back-pedalling South African misses an easy smash, and Simon enjoys the novelty of reaching deuce against serve. Well, I say enjoy: he doesn’t look quite so thrilled when Anderson sends down another couple of thunderbolts to close out the game inside about 15 seconds. Still, that was encouraging for the Frenchman.
3.56pm BST
Second set: Simon 7-6 (8-6) Anderson (sets 0-1) What a courageous tie-break from Simon, who survives a match point to square proceedings. He opens the tie-break by giving Anderson a taste of his own medicine in the form of an unreturnable serve. His growing confidence is illustrated by a lovely foray to the net a few points later that takes him to 3-2. At that stage, he plays a seemingly perfect point, approaching behind a crisp forehand after a couple of lovely double-handers have worked him into a promising position. But Anderson produces a fine forehand pass, and when the South African goes on to claim a mini-break for 5-4, it feels like a turning point. Not so. Simon cancels out the deficit after finding the baseline with a precise backhand approach, and although an Anderson ace brings up match point at 6-5, Simon keeps turning the screw from the back. That policy reaps dividends when Anderson sends a backhand well long for 6-6, and a feisty exchange on the next point sees Simon outmanoeuvre his opponent to bring up set point. More aggressive plays from the back takes him over the line, and we’re on level terms. Phew!
3.43pm BST
Second set: Simon 6-6 Anderson* (sets 0-1) Pressure, what pressure? Anderson sends down three consecutive unreturnable serves, and when then nets a forehand at 40-0. A tie-break it is …
3.41pm BST
Second set: Simon* 6-5 Anderson (sets 0-1) Hats off to Simon, he doesn’t dwell on the disappointment of failing to break. This is another efficient hold, and a quick game was just what he needed to make Anderson dwell on that previous game. The pressure falls on the South African again.
3.40pm BST
Second set: Simon 5-5 Anderson* (sets 0-1) Did you read that last entry, Gilles? Taking the game by the scruff of the neck, the Frenchman seizes the initiative on the opening point, making his way into the net and pressurising Anderson into a missed forehand pass. A mishit return from Simon then leaves Anderson flat footed, and there’s a glimmer of hope for him finally. But at 15-30, Anderson finds the line with a floating sliced approach, and instead of two set points it’s 30-30. A couple of big serves later, the game is over. Did I mention that tennis is a game of fine margins?
3.34pm BST
Second set: Simon* 5-4 Anderson (sets 0-1) While this may not exactly be one for the connoisseur, the match is certainly fascinatingly poised right now. Simon holds to 15 and, after a shaky start on serve at the beginning of this set, he is looking a lot more comfortable than he was. The challenge now will be making an impression in the next game, as Anderson serves to stay in the set. The first point could be vital …
3.32pm BST
Second set: Simon 4-4 Anderson* (sets 0-1) If Anderson is fretting about the prospect of serving second in this set, it doesn’t show. Despite another beautifully-timed backhand winner from Simon, the Frenchman’s hopes are snuffed out at 40-30 by Anderson’s 20th ace of the match. Brutal.
3.29pm BST
Second set: Simon* 4-3 Anderson (sets 0-1) Crucially, Simon is staying firmly in the hunt here. The highlight of another comfortable hold is a threaded backhand pass that leaves Anderson flailing at thin air. If he can just keep holding, Anderson will eventually have to serve to stay in the set. Perhaps that would put some pressure on the South African’s seemingly unassailable delivery?
3.27pm BST
Second set: Simon 3-3 Anderson* (sets 0-1) Anderson sends down another huge ace to hold to love, and it’s not difficult to see how he beat Stan Wawrinka, the newly crowned French Open champion, earlier in the week. The pressure he exerts with that serve is constant and unrelenting.
3.23pm BST
Second set: Simon* 3-2 Anderson (sets 0-1) On the plus side, Simon is certainly winning his own service games with greater ease now. A fine backhand seals another comfortable hold.
3.22pm BST
Second set: Simon 2-2 Anderson* (sets 0-1) Laura Robson has said after her crushing defeat to Daria Gavrilova at Eastbourne that the support of those who turned out to watch her meant the world. Right now it would probably mean the world to Gilles Simon if he could just get to deuce on the Anderson serve. He can’t. The Frenchman gets his racket on a backhand return at 40-30, but the velocity of the serve is such that he can only send the ball beyond the baseline. It’s difficult to see what he can do here beyond remaining patient and hoping his chance will come.
3.17pm BST
Second set: Simon* 2-1 Anderson (sets 0-1) Some powerful play from the back secures a love game for Simon. He needs more like this, because there’s nothing harder than playing against an opponent who is winning his serve with ease and placing the onus on you to hold.
3.15pm BST
Second set: Simon 1-1 Anderson* (sets 0-1) If I told you Anderson started this game with an ace, would you be surprised? Thought not. Interestingly, the match statistics confirm that Anderson is peppering Simon’s weaker forehand side. The Frenchman needs to be more alive to that pattern if he is to make any impression against the serve.
3.12pm BST
Second set: Simon* 1-0 Anderson (sets 0-1) All it took for Anderson to claim the opening set was a momentary lapse of intensity from Simon. Alarmingly for the Frenchman, it’s a lesson he doesn’t seem to have heeded. A wonderful lob from Anderson on the opening point offers evidence of silk amid the steel, setting the tone for a game in which some fine play from the back earns him several break points. But he repeatedly struggles to find the court with that big forehand, and Simon recovers his poise to stay on terms. That could easily have been game over for the Frenchman.
3.03pm BST
First set: Simon 3-6 Anderson* (*denotes server) Simon was serving with new balls in that game, but he could not take advantage. The same cannot be said for Anderson. Despite sending down his first double-fault of the match, he closes out the game with a fine volley to go a set ahead.
3.01pm BST
First set: Simon* 3-5 Anderson (*denotes server) An aggressive return from Anderson on the opening point sets him up for a huge forehand winner, a pattern he repeats on the next point to steal a march on Simon. 0-30. A mishit return then draws the Frenchman into the forecourt, but he fails to get his body out of the way and plops back an inviting volley that Anderson crashes for a winner. Simon tries to claw his way back into the game, but at 30-40 he sends a groundstroke long and the South African has the break.
2.56pm BST
First set: Simon 3-4 Anderson* (*denotes server) Anderson seals a straightforward game with his ninth ace. Meanwhile, Laura Robson has gone down 6-0, 6-1 in Eastbourne. Oh dear.
2.55pm BST
First set: Simon* 3-3 Anderson (*denotes server) Simon is soaking up the heavy groundstrokes coming his way from the other side of the net, staying in the rallies just long enough to elicit errors from Anderson. The South African will feel that he can afford to open his shoulders on the return, given his own dominance on serve. But it’s the Frenchman who prevails, sealing the game with a lovely double-fisted winner.
2.51pm BST
First set: Simon 2-3 Anderson* (*denotes server) Anderson hits back with a love game, which he concludes with a 134mph ace. It takes 60 seconds. It’s enough to make your head spin. Simon must be grateful for the change of ends.
2.49pm BST
First set: Simon* 2-2 Anderson (*denotes server) As expected, Simon is responding to Anderson’s power with craft and guile, moving his opponent around from the back and making his way into the net when he can. The approach serves him well, and after some accomplished play behind his serve he finishes the game with an ace. Touche.
2.46pm BST
First set: Simon 1-2 Anderson* (*denotes server) Already there have been more rallies in this match than one might have expected. It’s surprising that a man of Anderson’s gifts doesn’t follow that serve into the net every time – although when he does, and Simon hits a lovely crosscourt forehand pass beyond him, you can perhaps see why he’s staying back. Either way, it doesn’t make much difference. Three more aces see the South African over the line.
2.43pm BST
First set: Simon* 1-1 Anderson (*denotes server) When Anderson drives a backhand for a clean winner on the second point, you fear for Simon. Conceding serve here would be tantamount to conceding the set for the Frenchman. But he recovers well, striking a forehand winner and taking charge from the baseline to close out the game to 15.
2.41pm BST
First set: Simon 0-1 Anderson* (*denotes server) Anderson has won 39 of his 40 service games this week. You can see why. There’s a glimmer of hope for Simon when the man from Johannesburg fails to deal with a short return on the opening point, rolling a backhand approach shot into the net. But two aces follow and, more worryingly for Simon, Anderson also comes out on top of a lengthy rally at 30-15. Can’t imagine there will be too many of those. Needless to say, Anderson punctuates the game with an ace.
2.38pm BST
If attire is any measure of the Wimbledon preparations of these two players, Anderson has the edge. From his trademark cap down, the big South African is dressed in pristine white. Simon, meanwhile, sporting dark shorts and a red shirt, looks like he’s still in clay-court mode. Let’s hope not, as he’s elected to receive after winning the toss. Here we go!
2.30pm BST
Meanwhile, it’s groundhog day at Queen’s. Which is to say that Simon and Anderson are back on court and warming up.
2.29pm BST
Ouch. Britain’s Laura Robson, making her long-awaited comeback at Eastbourne today, has just lost the opening set of her match against Daria Gavrilova 6-0. After 17 months out with a wrist injury, nobody was expecting things to be easy for Robson against the Moscow-born world No41. But that’s a brutal scoreline. Let’s hope the talented British lefty can make more of an impression in the second set.
2.24pm BST
Bjorkman spoke of the “Borg effect” on the Swedish tennis fraternity, describing how players such as Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg and himself were inspired by the achievements of their illustrious countryman. As if you need reminding, Bjorn Borg won five successive Wimbledons as well as six titles at Roland Garros. Will Andy Murray have a similar effect on British tennis? Well, Roger Draper, the former chief executive of the LTA, always believed he would, frequently pointing to the potential “pied piper” effect of Murray’s ’s achievements. And certainly Kyle Edmund and James Ward have had some fine results of late. But it would be stretching things somewhat to compare them to the Swedish contingent mentioned above.
2.15pm BST
Play will begin at 2.25pm, apparently. In the meantime, John Inverdale is interviewing Jonas Bjorkman, the latest recruit to Team Murray, out on centre court. Poor Jonas; bet that wasn’t in his job description.
2.14pm BST
While we wait for the players to make the brief walk from the men’s locker room to centre court, let’s take a moment to salute Graham Kimpton, the ground manager. I’ve been lucky enough to play on the centre court at Queen’s Club, and it’s like a lush green carpet, albeit a lightning fast lush green carpet. The ability of the players to find time on the ball on such a slick surface, particularly given the speed and power of the modern game, is among the wonders of the sporting world. Something to bear in mind come Wimbledon.
2.03pm BST
The covers are off at Queen’s! Fingers crossed for some play in the very near future.
2.02pm BST
It may be raining here, but over in Halle Roger Federer has booked his now customary place in the final. The Swiss maestro beat yet another big server, Ivo Karlovic, in two close sets, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4). Federer has won the tournament eight times and lost in the final twice. Some record. He will play the winner of the second semi-final, between second seed Kei Nishikori and Andreas Seppi of Italy, tomorrow afternoon.
1.56pm BST
The latest news is that play won’t get underway for at least another quarter of an hour or so. Hey ho.
1.54pm BST
Let’s not forget that Andy Murray is scheduled to play against Victor Troicki later today. That match likewise promises a notable collision of styles, although the big-serving Troicki is more solid from the back than Anderson. The Serb was in impressive form during his recent run to the final in Stuttgart, where he was felled by Rafael Nadal in straight sets, falling away in slightly disappointing fashion after a nip-and-tuck first set. So it won’t be easy for Murray, who branded Troicki “unprofessional” after the Serb was banned for missing a drug test in Monte Carlo two years ago, and stood by that verdict after beating Gilles Müller in three sets yesterday. Should be an edgy encounter, that one.
1.39pm BST
So once play gets underway – let’s stay optimistic here – what should we expect? Well, as I said earlier, it should be a match of contrasts. Simon likes to ply his trade from the baseline, and brings to the table fleetness of foot, lovely hands and a surprising amount of power for a man of such slight frame (6ft tall, he weighs in at just 70kg according to the ATP’s sparkly new website). He generates that pace with exquisite timing and an ability to take the ball seriously early. How easy that will be against Anderson is a moot point, because the South African’s booming service scarcely leaves time to blink, let alone anything else. Anderson backs up that formidable weapon with some sharp volleying, and he moves better than one might expect from a man who stands 6ft 8in tall. The damp conditions could have a bearing, too, speeding up the surface and favouring the more attacking player. Simon will have his work cut out.
1.22pm BST
Bad news. The tournament supervisor Stephen Farrow is out, the net is down, and the players are off. Notably, though, the covers aren’t on. A passing shower, perhaps? Let’s hope so.
1.19pm BST
Uh oh, there are a few brollies out and James Keothavong, the chair umpire and brother of the retired British player Anne, is looking slightly perturbed. But the warm-up continues apace, and they should be underway shortly. Weather allowing. Told you this might turn into a rolling rain report.
1.15pm BST
The players are out and knocking up. Simon hesitated as he arrived on court, casting a quizzical look at the skies. But all is well for now.
1.12pm BST
Good afternoon and welcome to the first of today’s two semi-finals from Queen’s Club. If the weather forecasters are to be believed, this could turn into a rolling rain report. For now, though, we’ll ignore the grey skies and look forward to Gilles Simon against Kevin Anderson, a contest that offers a host of fascinating contrasts. Simon, the world No13, exudes elegance and flair, and it’s something of a mystery that a player of such talent has only a single grand slam quarter-final appearance to his name. Could it be down to the Frenchman’s lack of a big weapon? That’s not a problem from which his opponent today suffers. The towering Anderson has a truly humongous serve, and Simon’s ability to cope with the heavy artillery coming his way from the world No17 will have a major bearing on the outcome.
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