Gilles Simon booked his place in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells with a hard-fought victory over Paolo Lorenzi.
The Frenchman won the first set 6-3, but Lorenzi came back hard in the second reversing the scoreline.
Both men battled hard in the third set but Simon showed his class by breaking the Italian and secured a 7-5 win in a match that last nearly two-and-a-half hours.
Simon will play fellow countryman Benoit Paire in the third round.
