Hamburg - Fifth-seeded Gilles Simon beat No. 1 Gael Monfils 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in an all-French showdown on Friday to reach the semifinals of the German Open.
Simon will next play fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia. Youzhny saved two match points to rally past No. 12 Marin Cilic of Croatia 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
The Russian was down 6-4 in the tiebreaker but won the next four points to clinch the match after three hours.
Youzhny squandered a 3-1 lead in the final set and led 4-1 in the tiebreaker before having to fight from behind.
Results:
Mikhail Youzhny (4), Russia, def. Marin Cilic (12), Croatia, 4-6, 6-3 7-6 (6).
Gilles Simon (5), France, def. Gael Monfils (1), France, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.
Nicolas Almagro (3), Spain, def. Florian Mayer (6), Germany, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3).
Fernando Verdasco (8) Spain, def. Jurgen Melzer (2), Austria, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.