Intro:

Frenchman Gilles Simon reached his first Masters-level final in more than six years with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the Shanghai Masters on Saturday (11 October).

Script:

Gilles Simon is through to the final of a Masters-level event for the first time since Madrid in 2008, after he overcame Feliciano Lopez in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

He lost to Andy Murray in the final back in 2008 and can look forward to equally tough task on Sunday - he will face either Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in the decider.

Simon has already beaten world number four Stanislas Wawrinka and number seven Tomas Berdych on his way to the final in China.

The 29-year-old Frenchman beat Lopez in an hour and twenty minutes and impressively only lost seven points on serve throughout the match.

Simon is enjoying a momentof excellent form but the Frenchman will need to be at his best in order to lift the trophy in Shanghai on Sunday.