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Simon saves four match points to win in Madrid

Gilles Simon of France saved four match points in overcoming Igor Andreev of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7) in the first round of the Madrid Masters on Monday.

Simon saved all four while serving at 4-5 in the third set. Then the three-time title winner on tour this year came back from a 3-5 deficit in the tiebreaker to advance to a matchup with 11th-seeded James Blake.

Former top-5 player Tommy Robredo held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 in two hours, 19 minutes.

Robredo managed a decisive break point in the sixth game of the final set when Seppi slapped a forehand into the net. The Spaniard next plays eighth-seeded Andy Roddick.

Big Czech Tomas Berdych eased past Germany’s Rainer Schuettler 6-1, 6-2, while Marian Cilic of Croatia beat Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus 6-3, 7-5.

American qualifier Mardy Fish hit 13 aces to beat Belgian Steve Darcis in his first match since he got married two weeks ago. Fish converted all four of his break points against Darcis to play Richard Gasquet of France next.

Lucky loser Simone Bolelli also advanced, beating Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-6 (4), 6-1. The Italian, who was entered only after former champion Marat Safin withdrew with a shoulder injury, will next face US Open finalist Andy Murray.
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