Berdych battles into Bangkok final with Simon defeat

BANGKOK: Top seed Tomas Berdych struggled for nearly three hours before finally defeating Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the final of the Thailand Open.

World number six Berdych will play his third final of the season on Sunday when he faces the winner from second seed and holder Richard Gasquet of France and the big-hitting Canadian third seed Milos Raonic.

The Czech had his troubles with the game of the 14th-ranked Simon, who lost the 2012 final to countryman Gasquet.

Berdych is looking for his first title since Stockholm last October -- he is currently the lone member of the ATP top 10 without a trophy this season.

The match required a marathon effort from Berdych, who lost the opening set after 74 minutes.

Simon, known for long matches and extended passages of play, did not stray from type as he made his opponent work for the win.

After being treated on court for back pain on Friday, Simon did not use his courtside chair during changeovers in the Berdych match.

The top seed squared the match at a set each but had to keep up the pressure in the third before finally getting past the Frenchman who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga late week for the Metz title.

Berdych ended with 18 aces and six breaks of serve, saving 11 of the 14 break points he faced.

The Czech, playing in his seventh semi-final of the year and third in Bangkok after 2007-08, had lost his past three meetings against Simon.

Berdych beat Raonic in their only previous meeting and trails Gasquet 5-3 in their career series. (AFP)