Nice, France, May 25: Nikolay Davydenko beat top-seeded John Isner 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the Open de Nice semifinals, while second-seeded Gilles Simon and No. 3 Nicolas Almagro also won on Thursday.
Although Isner hit 13 aces, the American did not take Davydenko's serve. The Russian saved three break points and broke Isner once in the first set.
Davydenko, once ranked third in the world, next plays 216th-ranked Brian Baker of the United States, who beat Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Simon, who grew up in Nice, did not face a single break pointin a comfortable 7-5, 6-0 win against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.
He will play Almagro for a place in Saturday's final, after the Spaniard beat Belgium's Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-4.
