Bangkok :  Gilles Simon break a title draught stretching a year as the Frenchman dominated Serb Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-3 Sunday to win the Thailand Open.

Simon, tenth in the world and battling for one of eight places in the ATP World Tour Finals in London next month, claimed the sixth trophy of his career but first in more than a year with his performance over the Serb ranked 32nd.

Simon last won on clay in Romania in September, 2008. He is defending big computer points this month after losing the Madrid Masters final to Andy Murray a year ago.

Bangkok  - Second seed Gilles Simon needed to rally to join Juergen Melzer in the semi-finals of the Thailand Open Friday, producing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback over Russian Evgeny Korolev.

Simon completed the first leg of a possible French double at the Impact arena, with holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later bidding for the final four against Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli.

Serb fourth seed Viktor Troicki was playing American number eight John Isner to complete the day's programme. Sixth seed Melzer of Austria defeated German Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-2.

Bangkok  - France's Gilles Simon and American John Isner continued successful debuts at the Thailand Open Thursday with both advancing in straight sets into the quarter-finals.

But Russian Marat Safin, his career ending in just over a month, fell victim to Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Safin said after failing to reach only his second quarter-final of the season that he still maintains his competitive fire.

"I may be retiring, but I still want to win, I don't want to give away any matches. I really hate to lose," said the former number one who stands 11-17 in 2009.

Bangkok  - France's Gilles Simon and American John Isner continued successful debuts at the Thailand Open Thursday with both advancing in straight sets into the quarter-finals.

Tournament number two Simon, cautious on court as he tries to nurse an injured knee to the season finish line in November, got past American Kevin Kim 6-2, 6-2 with an 11-ace performance.

Eighth seed Isner beat German Mischa Zverev 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 after what he admitted was a sloppy opening set.

"I'm very satisfied to go through," said the 24 year-old ranked 48th with semi-finals at Indianapolis and Washington this season. "After my first round (where he struggled mightily against a teenaged Thai challenger), I'm playing with house money.

Melbourne - Gilles Simon broke through on Monday to earn the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career, a victory blighted by the retirement of opponent Gael Monfils.

Sixth seed Simon took a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win when his fellow Frenchman and frequent practise partner had to retire trailing two sets to one on the Australia Day holiday.

"Of course I didn't want to win like this," said Simon, who will face the winner from the match between top seed Rafael Nadal and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez. "I'm sorry, but that is tennis."

Perth, Australia  - Simone Bolelli scored a breakthrough victory over world number seven Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3 to draw his nation level with hot favourite France at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.

The Italians went in with nothing to lose and the tie at first looked like going with the form guide as French number one Alize Cornet dominated Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-2.

Shanghai - France's Gilles Simon will get a test of fire in his opening group match at the Masters Cup starting on Sunday when he faces holder Roger Federer.

Simon only squeezed into the field on Monday when world number one Rafael Nadal withdrew with a knee injury, now diagnosed as tendinitis.

Federer has won the last two editions in Shanghai and hopes to end the four-year run in China for the year-end event with a trophy hat-trick.

The Swiss who quit the Paris Masters last week with back pains, has won five Masters trophies and is top seed at the 4.45 million-dollar showcase.

Andy Murray and Andy Roddick make up the remaining members of Federer's Red group.