Simon, Almagro, Baker win in Nice

NICE, France, May 24 (UPI) -- Russian Nikolay Davydenko, defending champion Nicolas Almagro and Frenchman Gilles Simon all were quarterfinal winners Thursday at the Nice Open in France.

Davydenko downed top-seeded 6-foot-9 American John Isner 6,4, 7-6 (7-4) and Simon defeated Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bullucci 7-5, 6-0 at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club.

Reigning champion Almargo of Spain, the No. 3 seed, beat Belgian Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-4 on the red clay in a tune-up for Sunday's start of the French Open in Paris.

American qualifier Brian Baker, who upset fourth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils Wednesday, plays Mikhail Kukushin of Kazakhstan in another quarterfinal match.

Monfils pulled out of the French Open Thursday with a knee injury.

The winner of the $505,000 Nice Open takes home $91,000.