CASABLANCA, Morocco — Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Santiago Ventura 6-3, 6-3 today to reach the semifinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II.

The top-seeded Frenchman is in the semifinals for the first time since the Australian Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final.

Tsonga was in control of the first set, breaking Ventura twice and not facing any break points on his own serve. He saved two break points in the second set.

Tsonga will play qualifier Gilles Simon, who beat fourth-seeded Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-2. Simon is the first qualifier to reach the Casablanca semifinals since Ventura won the title four years ago.

Third-seeded Agustin Calleri of Argentina and fifth-seeded Julien Benneteau of France will meet in Friday's other semifinal match.

Calleri had a walkover win over Younes El Aynaoui — the Moroccan player had a left calf injury — and Benneteau was leading 6-3, 5-2 when Oscar Hernandez of Spain pulled out with a right-foot injury.