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Benneteau upsets mistake-prone Wawrinka to reach Cincy semifinals with 3-set win

Associated Press
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Julien Benneteau, from France, hits a backhand against Stan Wawrinka, from Switzerland, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (The Associated Press)

Stan Wawrinka, from Switzerland, eyes a forehand against Julien Benneteau, from France, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (The Associated Press)

Julien Benneteau upset Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka in the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals Friday.

The unseeded Frenchman won 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The third-seeded Wawrinka needed just 20 minutes to win the first set before unraveling with a string of unforced errors. He had 18 in the third set alone, while Benneteau had just five.

Benneteau has beaten Wawrinka in three consecutive matches. He reached the semifinals in Cincinnati for the first time.