Eighth-seeded Florian Mayer (GER) mixed deft touch with powerful groundstrokes to upset second-seeded Gilles Simon(FRA) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, at the

Simon, who had played near-flawless tennis in his run through the tournament, slammed into a brick wall in facing Mayer's backboard-like consistency in today's finals.

Mayer won the first four games of the match, breaking Simon twice. The lanky 6'4" German mixed huge, looping forehands with deep, slicing backhands to drive Simon sideline to sideline before pulling him in with soft, tape-skimming dropshots. Mayer took the first set, 6-4.

Perhaps bothered by swirling on-court breezes or his chronically sore right knee, Simon made uncharacteristic unforced errors and fell behind 1-3 in the second set.

The Frenchman gamely fought back to bring the score to 4-5, but found few cracks in Mayer's technically complete game. Mayer, serving at love with three Championship points on his racquet, aced Simon to win the tournament for the first time in four appearances and extend his career record against Simon to 3-0.

Story by Amy Roth, BMW Tennis Championship Media Staff
March 21, 2010