Gilles Simon thrilled home fans by reaching the semi-finals of the Paris Masters on Friday as he beat Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4. Simon beat former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis and lucky loser Victor Hanescu, who replaced absent top seed Roger Federer, before getting a free pass into the quarters as Japan's Kei Nishikori pulled out before their third-round match with an ankle injury.

Berdych, who has now lost to Simon in five out of seven matches, will now head to London for the World Tour Finals.
Simon, ranked 20th and the Bangkok finalist in September, will await a semi-final opponent from London qualifier Janko
Tipsarevic and Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, who beat Andy Murray in the third round.

Tsonga in atp Finals
PARIS: Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Serb Janko Tipsarevic secured the last two places for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals after reaching the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters on Thursday.
They will join Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro at The O2 arena in London.
Tsonga will be making his third appearance at the season finale. Tipsarevic returns for a second consecutive year, having appeared as an alternate in 2011 following Murray's withdrawal due to injury.

Fed cup summit clash
PRAGUE: World No 17 Lucie Safaro-va of holders Czech Republic will take on world No 12 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the first singles rubber of the Fed Cup final at the O2 Arena here on Saturday.