Gasquet leads French trio in quarters

Richard Gasquet looks to defend his Swiss Open title while compatriots Mathieu and Monfils advance to a first-time showdown.

Holder Richard Gasquet completed a French sweep into the quarter-finals of the Swiss Open on Thursday as compatriots Paul-Henri Mathieu and Gael Monfils advanced to a first-time showdown.

The third-seeded Gasquet, a Wimbledon semi-finalist against Roger Federer, demolished Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-3, 6-4, recovering from a lost break in the second set as warm, dry weather in the Alps replaced three days of rain and cold.

Fifth seed Mathieu defeated Feliciano Lopez, losing finalist to Gasquet in 2006, through a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) scoreline.

Monfils was ruthless as he swept aside Czech qualifier Jiri Vanek 6-1, 6-4 in 51 minutes - seven minutes quicker than Gasquet - on the back of 15 aces while never facing a break point from the outclassed number 120.

Mathieu and Monfils have never played each other on the ATP. Gasquet will next take on 2004 finalist Igor Andreev a 6-3, 7-6 winner against Italy's Potito Starace.

"I wanted to beat him since I lost to him at Roland Garros this year. I'm playing with confidence from Wimbledon. Even if I didn't play my best tennis, I still got the win," said Gasquet of Vliegen.

The seed lost a break of serve in the eighth game of the second set, but got it back in the ninth before serving out the win.