[Corina2605]

I heard that Simone is coached by Eduardo Infantino. Very experienced coach. Hope 2011 will be a good year for Simone

[Filo V.]

Yup, Infantino is to be an adviser for Simone, at least. That's a great set up, and also a pretty big name. Which shows me that Simone is still highly regarded. Hopefully Edu Infantino can help Simone reach higher levels in 2011.

Simone plays Bjorn Phau in R1 of Chennai Open. GL Simone!

[Filo V.]

Simone sadly has not improved this season and has actually regressed. His ranking has done the same, as he is no longer near the top 100, and will be in the 120s next week. He has won a couple of matches the past couple of weeks, he needs to string some together. Let's hope for something good this clay season.

[Filo V.]

Simone is playing Munich, a tournament he's had success at in the past. Let's hope for some more success this upcoming week.

[Filo V.]

Simone plays Marin Cilic in R1. He's done little with easy draws throughout the year, let's see how he does with a tough one this time.

[Champion number 1]

Lost 75 76. More encouraging performance at least. He really needs to step down to the challengers IMO though just to get a few wins and some confidence before maybe the late summer clay season where he can try the main draws again.

[Dmitry Verdasco]

Too hot to be outside the TOP 100.

gET iT tOGETHER!!!!!!!111111111111111111

[Filo V.]

Based on the reports, Simone played a great match and faltered on the big points. Obviously he lacks confidence, but he has started winning a few matches and being more competitive. Now he needs to put a full match together. He definitely needs to start playing challengers, his ranking is now going to be down in the 140 range. He doesn't have too much to defend for about 2 months so now is the time for him to do some damage. But it can't happen without some self-belief, and winning in challengers can give him that.

[Champion number 1]

According to tennisteen he willbe going to Madrid qualifiers, but yeah I think he should try some challengers (but also try qualifying for Rome, if no Wild Card and RG)

It seems tho that he will be just playing the qualifiers at least until RG.

[Filo V.]

I think he may as well try the qualifying at Madrid and *maybe* Rome (if he doesn't get a WC). His form is improving, and the points on offer are much bigger, so he should take advantage of that now, since his ranking won't be good enough to do so in a few weeks. If he carries his form from Munich and gets a decent draw, he should qualify.

[Filo V.]

Simone is in the doubles final in Munich with Zeballos, they beat Aspelin/Hanley today, which are a true doubles pair. They play another true doubles team in German homecrowd favorites Kas/Beck in the final. Even though it is doubles, winning a tournament will give Simone confidence as a player and give him that winning feeling again.

This does mean he won't play Madrid as the qualifying starts tomorrow, but I read he got a WC into next weeks' challenger in Rome. Let's hope that's true.

[Filo V.]

Simone is playing the Roma challenger and has Julien Reister in R1. Difficult R1 as Reister has been playing well. However, Simone is playing much better now himself. If Simone wins he has a good draw to the SF at least, so hopefully he takes it. Maybe playing in Italy will give Simone more confidence and motivation for better performances.

[Filo V.]

Simone and Zeballos won the doubles final 7-6(3) 6-3 over Kas/Beck! First ATP doubles title for Simone. Congrats to the two of them. Hopefully this pushes Simone to better results in singles

[Champion number 1]

Into the QF in the Rome challenger. Good wins aswell against Resiter and Lorenzi.

[Filo V.]

He's played great this week. Hopefully he can keep it up.