Sydney, Australia – Frenchman Julien Benneteau upended former up Marcos Baghdatis in Friday's semifinals at the $434,250 Sydney International tennis event, a final Aussie Open tuneup.
Baghdatis, coming off a win over top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, was broken four times by Benneteau to fall, 6-4, 6-4, on the hardcourts at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
Benneteau will face qualifier Jarkko Nieminen of Finland on Saturday after his 7-6 (14-12), 6-3 victory over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
Nieminen has won all four meetings against Benneteau.
Saturday's winner will earn $78,360.
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