By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson / Corleve

(April 28, 2012) Gilles Simon notched his 20th win of 2012 today over Matthias Bachinger of Germany, 7-5, 6-2. Next up? Fabio Fognini of Italy in Sunday's final.

"I feel good," said Simon. "I know that I can play very good here. I know the Center Court perfectly."

Simon, who won back-to-back titles in Bucharest in 2007 and 2008, has a 14-1 career record at the event, with his only loss coming to Jurgen Melzer in 2006.

The Frenchman, who has won eight of his last nine matches on clay, converted five of seventeen break points against the No. 120-ranked German. Bachinger had defeated No. 4-seeded Viktor Troicki en route to his first-ever ATP semifinal.

Bachinger served nine aces, but Simon was still able to win 50 percent of his return points. After being broken twice in a topsy-turvy first set, Simon did not face a break point in the second. He also took advantage of Bachinger's 39 percent first serve percentage to earn nine break points in set two.

Simon, currently ranked No. 12 in the world, will bid for his tenth ATP title in twelve finals tomorrow. The Frenchman owns a career head-to-head record of 3-0 vs. Fognini, with all his victories coming on clay in 2009.

Fognini advanced to his first ATP final by defeating Romanian qualifier Attila Balazs today, 6-3, 6-1 in 68 minutes.

The 24-year-old world No. 57, who reached the French Open quarterfinals before pulling out due to injury, has now won back-to-back matches for the first time this year.

Simon vs. Fognini, Head-to-Head

Year	Event	Surface	Round	Winner/Score
2009	Madrid	Clay	R32	Simon, 6-3, 6-2
2009	Estoril	Clay	R16	Simon, 6-0, 7-5
2009	Rome	Clay	R32	Simon, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3