Intro:

Spain's Nicolas Almagro reached the final of the Open de Nice Cote d'Azur on Friday (May 24th), following a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Gilles Simon of France.

The number three seed will next take on the winner of Friday's second semi-final between Nikolay Davydenko of Russia or American Bryan Baker.

Script:

Semi-finals at the Nice Open and the French crowd had high hopes for number two seed Gilles Simon, who was up against Spain's Nicolas Almagro.

However an inspired Almagro raced through the opener, taking it 6-1 in just 24 minutes.

The Frenchman showed a little more fight in the second set, and this delicate drop helped keep his hopes alive when serving to stay in the match.

However the comeback never materialised and Almagro served out the very next game to seal a 6-1, 6-3 win in just over an hour.

Almagro will take on the winner of the second semi, between Nikolay Davydenko and American Bryan Baker - however that match has been put back due to rain.