Top seed Simon eases into quarter-finals at Estoril

By Shrikesh Laxmidas

ESTORIL, Portugal (Reuters) - Top seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon beat Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-0 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Estoril Open on Thursday.

World number eight Simon overpowered 21-year-old Fognini in the first set, winning four of his seven break points.

The second set was a more balanced affair, with Fognini improving his service game, but wildcard Simon overcame the Italian's resistance by breaking his serve at 6-5.

Simon will face seventh seed Albert Montanes in the last eight after the Spaniard beat German Simon Greul 6-2 6-2.

Fourth seed James Blake is also in the quarter-finals after geting past Frenchman Marc Gicquel 7-6 6-2.

Gicquel saved a set point against his serve at 6-5 to force the tiebreak but then squandered a two-point advantage and allowed the American to take the set.

Blake, the world number 16, imposed himself more in the second set, using his powerful forehand to break 32-year-old Gicquel's serve twice and seal his second win on clay this year.

Blake will now face another Frenchman, eighth seed Florent Serra who battled past Argentina's Juan Monaco 6-3 1-6 6-3.

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