TORONTO (AFP) - French giantkiller Gilles Simon will move deep into the world top 20 next week after reaching the Toronto Masters semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatian Marin Cilic on Friday.

Simon, currently the world 22 with four career trophies, knocked out top seed Roger Federer in the second round here to follow his title triumph at Indianapolis last weekend.

The 23-year-old from Nice advanced to a Saturday semi-final against German Nikolas Kiefer, who moved closer to his first final since 2005 by defeating James Blake 6-1, 6-2.

Kiefer, 31, last won a trophy in October of 2000, and missed a year from mid-2006 to 2007 with a wrist injury.

"It was a short day in the office," he said. "It's just great, a good win for me."

Simon said he's running out of gas after winning his ninth match in a row, with three service breaks from 15 chances.

"It was really hot for me on court, but it was a great fight again, a great match," said Simon.

"I'm happy to be in the semi-final. But I'm tired. In the second set I just kept fighting on every point. The start of the match was hard for me, Marin played very well."

Swiss-based Simon improved his season record to 30-16 as he won his 19th match of 2008 on hardcourt.

The win was his third over teenager Cilic, who stunned sixth seed and 2003 winner Andy Roddick in the third round.

In later matches Friday, second seed Rafael Nadal, trying to close the gap on Federer in the world rankings, was facing Frenchman Richard Gasquet and third seed Novak Djokovic, the defending champion from Serbia, was to face British eighth seed Andy Murray.