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[Grabcopy]

It was Narcissus who looked into the pool and saw a more beautiful version of himself. Gilles Simon, who lost 6-3 6-3 to Andy Murray in the Cincinnati quarter-finals today, must experience something similar every time he sees the Scot across the net.

The French 10th seed, for whom this defeat was the seventh in a row against Murray, plays a similarly hypnotic and complex game. Just not as well. For 75 minutes, the two players conjured up tennis in which no angle was left unexploited, no sleight of hand unexplored and no short forehand punished.

As sorcerer and apprentice gently teed up their shots, you sensed murmurs of appreciation from Bernard Tomic. Somewhere up in the stands, Miloslav Mecir and Fabrice Santoro were probably salivating into their popcorn.

As Murray and the Frenchman attempted to impart eight different types of spin to the ball at once, it seemed that whenever either player put down their wand and picked up a lump hammer, they reaped the rewards.

Read more (139 words)

However, some behaviours are far too ingrained, and the Scot and the 12th-ranked Frenchman twisted, grimaced and ground their way through a first set of mesmerising groundshots like two tortured Renaissance philosophers. This was as close as tennis gets to quidditch.

Ultimately, the first set was decided by the quality of Murray's first serve, which met with a welcome success rate of over 70%.

In the second set, the Scot's groundshots became bigger, his dropshots sweeter and his touch play ever more surgical, as the Frenchman's challenge petered out in a welter of Gallic shrugs and miscued dropshots.

This was a useful workout for the world number four, who will nevertheless have to find his A game for the semi-finals, where he'll face either Rafael Nadal or Mardy Fish, both of whom hold a winning record against the Scot.

[michelle]

What a brilliant account. Really brought out the great variety of shots, many watching would not have appreciated the skills of both players.

[Grabcopy]

I saw most of it.

[top_spin]

Simon really is hypnotic.  In more ways than one!

[Grabcopy]

It's Fish. He's flying tonight.

Boom boom.

[Sir Panda]

What chance Andy beating Fish in this form?

Slim.

[scotsgeek28]

LOL...Andy will beat Fish, in fact he will batter him, fry him, and serve him up on a platter...!!

Nadal was in terrible shape there, Murray is on the way back up.  This will be the evening match which will suit Muzza and I can't see anything other than a straight sets win.

Fish is playing well but hugely overrated.  Talk of him even being an outsider for NY is an absolute joke to be honest.  He is a solid player, deserves to be top 10, but as good as the top four, absolutely not even in the same ballpark.

He has taken advantage the last few weeks of the top guys either not playing or being very rusty/injured.  His true level will be returned tomorrow when Andy takes him apart.

[Murray Magic]

Scotsgeek - exactly where has Fish been in the other GS's this year - nowhere - Andy has to come out all guns blazing and batter the arrogant yank.  His behaviour at Queens last year was awful and unsporting against Andy - hope Andy remembers the last three defeats at Fish's hands and exacts the appropriate revenge.  Come on Andy take the Fish out .....