The defending champion Gilles Simon had to play at his consistent best to see off the rugged challenge of clay court specialist Albert Montanes 6-3 6-4 in a match full of long high quality baseline rallies.

Both men had break point opportunities early on in the opening set, but it was Simon who eventually broke to lead 5-3 when his Spanish opponent double faulted on the fourth break point of the game. Simon closed out the 41 minute set in the next game to 15 with a service winner.

Both men were hitting to a good length with Simon having the slight edge with his more powerful flatter strokes that had Montanes running at full stretch.

Simon broke for 3-1 in the second set and held onto his break advantage, eventually closing out the entertaining contest on serve on his fourth match point with a sublimely executed serve and volley winner.

"It was a really good match and I am very happy to win like this in straight sets", said a delighted Simon. "He played very nice tennis throughout the match and missed just two games at the end of the first set. I played very good tennis today and I'm in good shape so I'm okay. I had very nice sensation on the court and I am so confident, so it is very good for me to win like this."

In this kind of form Simon is certainly looking like the favourite for the title, and rightfully feels confident that he can become the first player to successfully defend his BCR Open crown.

"I was so tired after this summer", Simon confessed. "I just wanted to play this tournament because I won it last year and wanted to defend my title. So many seeds have lost, but I am seeded No.2 so either way I have a good chance to win even if they were still in the tournament."

Simon's defeat of the former world No.1 during the hardcourt season has certainly helped to lift the Frenchman's confidence to another level.

"I have no pressure when I come on the court, that's why I am moving fast like this and I can repeat it every point because there is no tension, so I just focus on the game and I just want to play good tennis. When you defeat a player like Roger Federer, for sure you are so confident in your game."

Andre Jones

BNR Arena

Bucharest