Fourth-seeded Frenchman
Richard Gasquet knocked out 2004 champion and No. 5 seed
Robin Soderling of Sweden 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Friday for a spot in the Lyon semifinals.
Gasquet will next meet French compatriot
Arnaud Clement, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over No. 8
Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-3, 6-2. Clement won 31 of 34 points on first serve with 10 aces. The Frenchman, who has captured two ATP titles this year in Marseille (d. Ancic) and Washington, broke the Almagro serve three times during the affair.
In the bottom half of the draw, No. 7 seed and 2004 finalist
Xavier Malisse defeated American
Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-3. 30-year-old
Marc Gicquel also edged sixth-seeded French compatriot
Sebastien Grosjean 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(5).
