Murray through in Valencia; Simon crashes out

Top-seeded Andy Murray reached the semifinals of the Valencia Open on Friday, beating Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-2, while fifth-seeded Gilles Simon crashed out, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Mikhail Youzhny. Murray looked comfortable throughout his 73-minute match and broke Montanes of Spain in the first game. Murray broke again in the ninth to help clinch the set before racing to a 4-0 lead in the second and securing a semifinal spot.