Safin Refuses Handshake After Loss at Valencia

Tournament organizers were left without a Sunday marquee name after two shock upsets made for two first-time finalists on Saturday at the ATP claycourt stop in Valencia.

Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro, who earlier in the week toppled former French Open champ and world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, did one better Saturday with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over in-form Russian wildcard Marat Safin.

The contentious match between Safin and Almagro grew even more bad-tempered after the Russian twisted his ankle, with Safin refusing to shake hands following match point. The Russian also squandered a break lead in the final set.

The lone remaining seed in the event fell in the other semifinal when Frenchman Gilles Simon ousted No. 7 Fernando Verdasco to also move into his first career final.

It will be the first career meeting between Almagro and Simon.