SYDNEY, Australia -- Fourth-seeded Serb Viktor Troicki and unseeded Frenchman Gilles Simon each won their respective semifinal matches Friday at the $450,000 Sydney International, a final Australian Open tune-up.
Troicki topped rising German Florian Mayer 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to reach the final, while Simon upset third-seeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 in just 73 minutes on the hardcourts at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
The 24-year-old Troicki will appear in his fourth career final, seeking a second title. He won in Moscow last season.
The 26-year-old Simon, a former member of the top 10, is 6-2 in his previous career ATP finals.
The 5-foot-11 Simon is a perfect 4-0 lifetime against the 6-foot-4 Troicki and hasn't dropped a set.
Saturday's winner will pocket $77,000.
