Ferrer advances to Malaysian Open semis, will face Benneteau

David Ferrer overcame a first-set loss to beat Igor Sijsling and advance to the Malaysian Open semis.

AHMAD YUSNI/EPA

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain rallied past Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Malaysian Open.

He'll face Julien Benneteau of France, who defeated Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-2 at Kuala Lumpur's Putra Stadium.

"I was good tactically and did not give him a chance to come back into the game," Benneteau said.

Second-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina beat Vasek Pospisil of Canada 6-3, 6-4 to set up a semifinal against Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Nishikori, Asia's top-ranked player, advanced when 2009 champion Nikolay Davydenko retired after losing the first set of their quarterfinal 6-4. Davydenko also pulled out of the quarterfinals here last year with an injury.

"It's sad to see him retire, but hopefully he is fine," Nishikori said.