Murray battles past Simon to reach Shanghai Masters final
The world number two defeated the Frenchman 6-4 6-3 and will go on to face Spain's Roberto Bautista in Sunday's final.
World number two Andy Murray saw off Gilles Simon in the Shanghai Masters in straight sets to reach the final, where he will play tournament sensation Roberto Bautista, who beat world number one Novak Djokovic earlier in the day, for the title on Sunday.
Murray, who has lifted the trophy in Shanghai on two previous occasions (2010 and 2011) was given a tough time by Simon in the opening set, dropping his first service game, but soon took control against the Frenchman, who was involved in a marathon quarter-final with Jack Sock, to record a 6-4, 6-3 triumph.
Murray has never dropped a set against Bautista
Murray and Bautista, seeded 15th in Shanghai, have met twice before at Wimbledon in 2014 and in Munich last season, with the Scot victorious on both occasions. To date, Bautista has not taken a set from the number two.