Australian Matthew Ebden’s next obstacle at Wimbledon 2018 is Frenchman Gilles Simon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match on Saturday night, starting from 8:30pm AEST.
Ebden is doing quite well so far at Wimbledon – this match sees him in the third round of the tournament, which is further than he’s ever gone before at a grand slam.
It is the eighteenth time that Ebden has appeared at a grand slam tournament, and in twelve of those he’s been drummed out in the first round.
Looking at his fixture that might well have been the case again this time around, but he pulled off a remarkable win over David Goffin.
Goffin, the world No.10, was unable to even take a set against Ebden, who won the match 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
He then had a challenge against Stephane Robert in the second round, eventually moving through in four sets, one of which went to a tiebreaker.
Robert was able to snag the third set after Ebden won the first two, but the Australian the coasted home with a 6-1 win in the fourth set.
Ebden started the tournament was world No.51, but will certainly crack into the top 50 on the basis of his results so far.
Simon is a former world No.6 and has twice made the quarterfinals of grand slams, including here at Wimbledon in 2015.
However it’s been two years since he made it past the third round of a grand slam, and he has dropped to being the world No.54.
Prediction
Let’s be optimistic, why not? Ebden appears to be in the best form of his career, so just might be able to get over Simon here.
Ebden in four sets.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the third round Wimbledon match between Matthew Ebden and Gilles Simon on Saturday night, starting from 8:30pm AEST.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Gilles Simon has beaten Matt Ebden in 4 sets this evening at Wimbledon. It was a high quality match from both players and Simon's tie breaker in the fourth set was almost perfect. Ebden had his chances on Simon's serve but didn't convert these until late. Simon will go on to play Juan Martin Del Potro in the 4th round. Good night all
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ebden holds with serve volley point. 1-0. Ebden runs around the backhand but makes an error. 1-1. Simon charges the net and wins with the volley. 2-1. Serve volley point gets it to 2-2.Double fault from Ebden and its 3-2 to Simon. Big serve and volley from Simon and he holds 4-2 lead on change. Ebden nets a sliced backhand and Simon leads 5-2. Volley error and Simon holds 4 match points. Another great return and Simon has won this match. Ebden 1 7 3 6 Simon 6 6 6 7
David Holden
Roar Guru
A big momentum shift to Ebden over past couple of games. The pressure is now on Simon to hold. Ebden wins first point with big forehand and volley. Big forehand from Ebden makes it 0-30. Great point from Simon and he wins it with a classy backhand volley. 15-30. Serve volley point makes it 30-30. Huge point Another great volley from Simon earns him a game point. Good groundstroke rally with Ebden winning out. Deuce. Forehand winner from Simon after wide serve. Ebden draws the error with an off forehand. Deuce. Good point from Simon finishing with a tough overhead. Ebden makes an error with the forehand and we have a tie break. Ebden 1 7 3 6 Simon 6 6 6 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon hits great winner for 0-15. Double fault for 0-30. Down the line backhand winner from Simon and he has 3 points to break. Deep volley from Ebden forces the error. 15-40. Good wide serve to the forehand saves another break point. Another good serve for deuce. Forehand error from Simon gives Ebden the ad. Ebden holds. Ebden 1 7 3 6 Simon 6 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great point from Ebden and he wins it with a forehand volley, 0-15. Double fault and its 0-30. Ebden charges net and his volley forces an error, Its 0-40. Ebden dominates point and has broken back! Ebden 1 7 3 5 Simon 6 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good first serve for 15-0 and ace for 30-0. Forehand winner from Ebden and its 40-0. Great topspin lob from Ebden who holds and will force Simon to serve it out Ebden 1 7 3 4 Simon 6 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good first point from Ebden as he charges the net and wins it with a backhand volley. Winner on the off forehand for 0-30. Great wide serve from Simon sets up that point. 15-30. Another forehand winner from Simon and he has got it back to 30-30. Ebden has just pushed a forehand wide and Simon has game point. Great rally from both players but Ebden has netted a backhand and Simon holds Ebden 1 7 3 3 Simon 6 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big second serve from Ebden. 15-0. Nice half volley pick up for 30-0. Unplayable serve down the middle for 40-0 before a missed volley brings it back to 40-15. Another ace from Ebden and he has held serve. Ebden 1 7 3 3 Simon 6 6 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ebden pushes forehand long. 15-0. Ebden's backhand approach floats long. 30-0. Simon wins point with crosscourt backhand. Forehand long from Ebden and Simon holds Ebden 1 7 3 2 Simon 6 6 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Two good serves for 30-0. Double fault for 30-15. Forehand miss from Ebden and its 30-30. Good fightback with ace for 40-30. He holds after a forehand mistake from Simon. Ebden 1 7 3 2 Simon 6 6 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon is well on top now. Ebden has to try and lift his game. Backhand winner from Simon for 15-0. Ebden hits a backhand winner for 15-15. Another positive point for 15-30. Great forehand volley from Simon and we are tied at 30-30. Ebden mishits a forehand and game point for Simon. Poor backhand miss from Ebden and Simon holds. Ebden 1 7 3 1 Simon 6 6 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ebden hits drop shot, brings Simon in but overhits lob volley. 0-15. Simin error on return and its 15-15. Ace for 30-15. Double fault for 30-30. Simon overhits a forehand and Ebden has game point. Double fault for deuce. Good return from Simon forces volley error from Ebden. Another volley error and Simon has broken for 2-1 Ebden 1 7 3 1 Simon 6 6 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Swinging serve forces the backhand error. 15-0. Another forced error for 30-0. Make that 3 for 40-0. Second service ace and Simon holds Ebden 1 7 3 1 Simon 6 6 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon is starting to get on top of the groundstroke rallies so Ebden will need to find another level to stay in this match. He is not out of it but has to start converting his opportunities. Ebden to serve. Good first serve wins first point. Drop shot is netted for 15-15. Good serve volley point for 30-15.Ace for 40-15. Simon makes an error with a forehand and Ebden holds. Ebden 1 7 3 1 Simon 6 6 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon claims first point. Ebden mishits a forehand for 30-0 lead to Simon. Great backhand winner from Simon for 3 set points. He claims it with a forehand winner. Ebden 1 7 3 Simon 6 6 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ebden is 0 and 7 on his break point chances whereas Simon has converted 3. That's the difference so far. Ace from Ebden to kick things off. Another good serve for 30-0. Missed forehand from Simon, 40-0. Ebden serve and volleys but nets the first volley. Ebden closes the game out with forehand volley winner. Ebden 1 7 3 Simon 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace for 15-0 from Simon. Ebden nets a forehand and its 30-0. Unforced backhand return error. 40-0. Ebden wins a groundstroke rally. 40-15. Dropshot missed by Ebden and Simon holds for 5-2. Ebden 1 7 2 Simon 6 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ebden still hasn't broken serve after a number of break points and it has to be playing on his mind. Unforced error from Simon. 15-0. Good second serve and its 30-0. Groundstroke volley winner for 40-0. Simon lobs Ebden and wins the point with a volley. 40-15. Ace closes it out for Ebden Ebden 1 7 2 Simon 6 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
15-0 for Simon. Simon nets a low forehand for 15-15. Great smash from Simon for 30-15 after he just reels in a topspin lob. Good point from Ebden forces the error for 30-30. Low backhand return from Ebden forces Simon volley error. Break back point. Ebden plays a good point but a Simon backhand finds the line. Deuce. Forehand wide from Simon for another break point. Ebden floats a backhand long. Deuce. Wide service forces error and Simon has game point. Ebden nets a forehand and Simon holds. Ebden 1 7 1 Simon 6 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Two great backhand volleys for 30-0. Forehand error from Ebden for 30-15. First serve but clean backhand winner from Simon. 30-30. Double fault and its a break point against Ebden. Good first serve and volley makes it deuce. Backhand miss from Simon and Ebden has the advantage. Good rally but Ebden pushes a forehand wide. Deuce. Another double fault and break point again. Another good save with first serve and forehand volley. Ebden attacks the net but Simon manages to hit it so that Ebden must hit a half volley. He nets it. Simon just missed a return and its deuce again. First service ace from Ebden and he has game point. First serve but volley hits the net. We are deuce again. Great volley from Ebden for a game point. High quality tennis here. Great return from Simon and we are deuce again. Ebden nets a backhand and break point for Simon. Great forehand winner from Simon and he has break. Ebden 1 7 1 Simon 6 6 3