Exhausted giantkiller Simon to face Kiefer in ATP semis

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

TORONTO (AFP) — French giantkiller Gilles Simon will move deep into the world top 20 next week after reaching the Toronto Masters semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatian Marin Cilic on Friday.

Simon, currently the world 22 with four career trophies, knocked out top seed Roger Federer in the second round here to follow his title triumph at Indianapolis last weekend.

The 23-year-old from Nice advanced to a Saturday semi-final against German Nikolas Kiefer, who moved closer to his first final since 2005 by defeating James Blake 6-1, 6-2.

Kiefer, 31, last won a trophy in October of 2000, and missed a year from mid-2006 to 2007 with a wrist injury.

"It was a short day in the office," he said. "It's just great, a good win for me."

Simon...