Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga qualified for the quarterfinals of the ATP event on Thursday with five other Frenchmen, leaving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic as the only non-French player left in the draw.

Tsonga, the top seed in the ?650 000 event, secured his place in the last eight with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Belgian world number 62 Olivier Rochus, having been stretched in the first round by America's Kevin Kim, who he eventually beat 7-6, 7-6.

"It was better but the opponent was the difference," said Tsonga.

"Rochus's game suits me better and having a match behind me helped. I was more relaxed but it's easier when you get in front."

Tsonga's adversary in the quarter-finals on Friday will be the 2000 champion Arnaud Clement, who beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 6-4, 6-3.

Third seed Ljubicic was taken to three sets by Germany's Nicolas Kiefer before prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will face France's Florent Serra, who defeated Spain's Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday evening.

Simon, a 6-1, 6-2 victor over French qualifier and world number 204 David Guez, will play last year's runner-up Julien Benneteau, who beat South African Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-2.