Frenchmen Llorda, Gasquet, Simon, Benneteau reach Open Sud de France quarterfinals

Llodra of France had 13 aces and did not concede a break point, beating second-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3, 7-6 (4) Thursday to reach the Open Sud de France quarterfinals.

Three other Frenchmen also advanced to the quarters: third-seeded Richard Gasquet, fourth-seeded Gilles Simon and sixth-seeded Julien Benneteau.

Llodra hit 20 winners in the first set and was the more aggressive player, displaying excellent volleying at the net. Tipsarevic saved two break points at 15-40 in the 11th game of the second set and then opened a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker, but Llodra fought back and sealed victory with consecutive aces.

"My serve was good today and that helps on a quick surface like this," Llodra said. "There wasn't much in it, but I think I had more chances than him. I'm very happy to have won in straight sets."

Simon had 12 aces in a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win against qualifier Arnau Brugues-Davi. Simon next faces eighth-seeded Benoit Paire in an all-French match. Llodra plays Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic, who led 6-0, 4-2 against seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki when the Serb retired.

"He impressed me earlier," Llodra said. "The match is within my reach but all of these matches are tough."

Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine defeated Tatsuma Ito of Japan 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3) and will next face Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

Gasquet will meet Benneteau in another all-French match after coming back from an error-strewn second set to beat compatriot Gael Monfils 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Benneteau defeated Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-4, 6-4.