Simon advances to final

Defending champion Gilles Simon advanced to the BCR Open final on Saturday, rallying for a 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory over eighth seed and 2004 champion Jose Acasuso of Argentina.

Second-seeded Frenchman Simon, who beat local favourite Victor Hanescu in last year's final, will be after his third title of the season on Sunday when he faces sixth-seeded Spaniard Carlos Moya.

The 32-year-old Moya advanced to the 28th claycourt final of his career with a 6-2 6-4 semi-final triumph over top-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, whose 2008 championship drought continued.

Moya also is having an off year, as the former number one remains without a trophy. The 1998 French Open champion, who has claimed 16 of his 20 career titles on clay, has captured at least one ATP title in each of the past eight seasons.

Though Simon lacks the extensive claycourt resume of Moya, the 23-year-old has won two of his four career titles on this surface - including a triumph in Casablanca earlier this season - and is 10-1 lifetime at this event.

The world number 17 is also enjoying the best season of his career with a 39-10 record that includes wins over world number two Roger Federer and third-ranked Novak Djokovic.

Moya, who beat Simon in their only previous meeting in 2005, will be contesting his 44th ATP final on Sunday and bidding for his first championship since July 2007 in Umag.

BCR Open semi finals
6-Carlos Moya (Spain) def. 1-Richard Gasquet (France) 6-2 6-4
2-Gilles Simon (France) def. 8-Jose Acasuso (Argentina) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4