Gilles Simon, who is trying to break into the world's top four, survived a tough early challenge at the Dubai Open on Tuesday before defeating Kuwaiti wildcard Mohammed Ghareeb.

The world number seven from France was in danger of a spectacular exit in the first round when he stood at four-all, 30-all in final set against Ghareeb, who is ranked outside the top 400 in the world.

But Simon summoned the mental strength and stable judgement to make the right selections and maintain adequate control to take him to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win.

There were mitigating factors in allowing himself to get into such trouble.

It was little more than a day and a half since he had come from totally different indoor conditions in Marseille, it was a baking hot day of 34 centigrade in the shade, and his understandably slow start gave the opportunity and incentive for Ghareeb to play to an inspired standard.

The Kuwaiti served resolutely, his heavy forehand topspin was dangerous, and he fought like mad.

It was only an indifferent forehand return into the net from a moderate second serve which let him down near the end, when he might have reached break point for 5-4 and a chance to serve for the match.

Instead, serving at 4-5, he reached 30-love, but found himself under pressure when, within sight of defeat, he lost a couple of long rallies.

He then missed with an indifferent backhand drive and an over-ambitious forehand faded wide, to lose the match.

Despite that Ghareeb was rightly pleased with his performance.

"I played better than I thought I would and it was a great experience," he said.

It was a useful experience for Simon too, if a slightly worrying one.

He was pleased to have had more than two hours match practice in the fast, hot, conditions — something which may serve him well later in the tournament. He is seeded for a semifinal with the top-seeded Novak Djokovic, the world number three.

It was also confirmation of the permanency of the more resilient, more mature attitude which enabled the Switzerland-based 24-year-old to burst from outside the top 20 and into the world's top ten last year.

There was also a good fight-back from another Frenchman, Julien Benneteau, who made a crucial break of serve at three-all in the final set against Jurgen Melzer, the Austrian ranked a dozen place higher at 32 in the world, and went on to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Benneteau next plays Marin Cilic, the fifth-seeded Croatian. Simon faces Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

AFP

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