Not so simple for Simon

Simon: Saw off Bolelli

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Gilles Simon came through a tough tussle against Simone Bolelli to reach the second round of the ATP Lyon Grand Prix.

The Frenchman, seeded second, was forced to work hard for his 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) victory, despite firing down 14 aces.

The win keeps alive the chances of the world number 12 clinching one of the final two places available in the season-ending World Tour Finals.

"I have always been struggling here in Lyon until last year when I reached the semi-finals," he said afterwards.

"I am now feeling better and better and I think I could do pretty well until the end of the season."

Mixed fortunes

Simon's fellow Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, seeded sixth, also progressed through to the second round with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win over Leonardo Mayer.

The news was not so good for another home favourite, as wildcard Sebastien Grosjean failed to build on taking the first set against Nicolas Keifer, eventually losing 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-2) to the German.

Vincent Millot was also knocked out early, Belgian Olivier Rochus easing to a 6-3 6-2 result.

Meanwhile, Julien Benneteau became the first player through to the last eight of the tournament when he defeated qualifier Kelvin Anderson 7-5 6-2.

Florent Serra of France soon joined his compatriot in the quarter-finals by seeing off the challenge of Spain's Albert Montanes 7-5 6-3.