Script:

It was a battle of the Gilles in Tokyo for the early quarter final action of the Japan Open. Gilles Muller took on third seed Gilles Simon.

Muller, from Luxembourg, made a strong start breaking Simon in the eighth game and went on to take the opening set 6-3.

He pushed on from there, opening out a commanding 5-2 second set lead.

The third seed Simon provided some late resistance when he closed to 5-4, but Muller held his nerve for a 6-3, 6-4 victory and a place in the semi-finals.

Elsewhere there was no such upset for top seed Stan Wawrinka.

He broke opponent Austin Krajicek to love in the sixth game of the opening set, and went on to take it 6-3.

Krajicek was more competitive in the second set, but the composed Swiss simply moved up a gear and took the match 6-3, 6-4 for his place in the last four.