Fourth-seeded Frenchman
Richard Gasquet gave his locals reason to cheer after beating big-serving Belgian
Dick Norman 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals at Lyon.
The 20-year-old Gasquet has won 22 of last 29 matches, and will now face Swede
Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals.
Joining Gasquet is sixth-seeded
Sebastien Grosjean, a 7-6(5), 6-2 winner over French countryman
Cyril Saulnier 7-6 (5), 6-2. Grosjean next will face his third straight Frenchman,
Marc Gicquel.
2004 Lyon finalist and No. 7 seed
Xavier Malisse ousted
Julien Benneteau 6-2, 7-6 (5). Malisse now gets American
Robby Ginepri, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Germany's
Simon Greul.
Former champion and Frenchman
Arnaud Clement became the fourth Frenchman into the final eight following a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over countryman
Michael Llodra. Clement will face No. 8
Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals.
