Gilles Simon may be the ultimate counterpuncher.  He lacks huge weapon.  He doesn’t have a big serve.  He doesn’t try to go for big shots much.  He is quick.

Apparently, Almagro had chances to break in the first set, but Simon staved off break point after break point.  Simon eventually captured the first set, 6-4, despite Almagro playing very good tennis.  Simon is a backboard and forces you to hit a lot of balls to win.

In the second set, Almagro was up 3-0, but Simon was able to bring it back to 4-all before Almagro had a late break to take the second set.  Simon then won a marathon first game to break in the third set.  His tenacity seemed to frustrated Almagro.  Simon took the third set, 6-4.

This is Simon’s first ATP 500 title.

It looks like Simon should move to 10 in the world.  He should pick up 410 points (he drops 90 points from an older ATP 500 result) which will give him over 2100 points and put him tenth in the world.