Gilles Simon takes on Pablo Cuevas in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open.
Few would have heard of Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas before this tournament but on Saturday he scored the biggest win over his career by some distance, stunning defending champion Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-6 in the second round. Roddick was not 100% physically but that should not take the gloss off Cuevas' achievement as he fired 15 aces and saved 4 break points to earn his first win over a top ten player.
Simon started 2011 fast, winning the Sydney title before engaging Roger Federer in a five set thriller in the second round of the Australian Open, one of the finest matches of the tournament.
However the past couple of months have been a little quiet for the Frenchman and he crashed out of Indian Wells in straight sets in the third round last week.
He will though be favourite to end Cuevas' run here and book a place in the fourth round. Simon will be far more consistent than Roddick was and with his counter-punching style, the Frenchman is not adverse to hanging out there all day in the long baseline rallies.
Prediction: Simon in straight sets
