ATP - Gilles Simon to take on Fognini in Bucharest final

Top seed Gilles Simon beat Germany’s Matthias Bachinger 7-5, 6-2 to reach the finals of the ATP event in Bucharest for the third consecutive year.

“It was a difficult match again,” commented Simon. “His serve was amazing today and he saved many break points with aces or winners. I was playing and moving better than yesterday, but Matthias gave me a hard time on the court. I feel good. I know that I can play very good here. I know the centre court perfectly and I really think I can win this tournament one more time.”

The Frenchman is now 14-1 lifetime at this event and will be aiming to iwn his third title here and the 10th overall of his career.

He will meet Italian Fabio Fognini in the final. Fognini beat Hungarian qualifier Attila Balazs 6-3, 6-1. The Hungarian is ranked 450 in the ATP rankings.

Simon leads Fognini 3-0 in career head to head matches.

“Right now I’m really happy because it’s my first final,” commented Fognini. “I’ve lost maybe six or seven semi-finals in a row but today I was really solid. I couldn’t imagine making the final on my first time here. But when I was injured I was working hard every day and now a little dream has come true. The tournament is not finished yet; tomorrow I will give it 110 per cent against a really good player and we will see what happens.”