Top-seeded Rafael Nadal beat French wild card Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals of the Open 13.
Nadal enjoyed an easier second-rounder on Thursday after saving a match point in his opening match. The 19-year-old Spaniard converted all three of his breakpoints against Simon.
He next plays Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, who upset seventh-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (0), 6-3.
Third-seeded Nikolay Davydenko also bowed out, losing to Russian countryman and lucky loser Evgeny Korolev 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Korolev, who turned 18 on Tuesday, replaced the injured Tim Henman in the draw. Up next was eighth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean, the 2001 finalist in his hometown, who topped Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-1.
Second-seeded Ivan Ljubicic beat Igor Andreev of Russia 7-6 (5), 6-4, and will play for a semifinal berth with fellow Croat Mario Ancic, the sixth seed.
Ancic beat French qualifier Jean-Christophe Faurel 6-3, 6-3, and was a little wary of his next match.
"Of course it's always a little bit strange playing a guy who you just played with in the Davis Cup," Ancic said. "We won together an Olympic medal, and played last year's Davis Cup. But when you are professionals you know in this type of game and this level we can meet all the time."
Ljubicic, last year's Open 13 runner-up, has a 2-0 record against Ancic. French veteran Fabrice Santoro secured a quarterfinal berth by beating Greg Rusedski of Britain 6-3 6-2. Next up was compatriot and wild card Arnaud Clement, who defeated Fernando Verdasco of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-3.
{{/usCountry}}Ljubicic, last year's Open 13 runner-up, has a 2-0 record against Ancic. French veteran Fabrice Santoro secured a quarterfinal berth by beating Greg Rusedski of Britain 6-3 6-2. Next up was compatriot and wild card Arnaud Clement, who defeated Fernando Verdasco of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-3.
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